What's the magic in Oregon

 that keeps kids lean?

It's a mystery health officials

 would like to solve

 as they admit all states are failing — by a mile — to meet federal goals for childhood obesity.

Oregon has the nation's lowest rate of hefty kids, according to a new government study, which found big gaps between regions and ballooning obesity rates in many states from 2003 to 2007.

More than 16 percent of American children ages 10 to 17 years were not just overweight, but obese, in 2007. That's a 10 percent rise from 2003. Mississippi topped the nation with more than a fifth of its kids obese.

Oregon was the star, with the lowest rate of obesity — defined as body mass index in the 95th percentile or above — at just under 10 percent. And Oregon was the only state whose childhood obesity fell significantly from 2003 to 2007.

Read the full article from the Associated Press...