UPDATE: LANSING - Its the unfortunate reality of our state.

"We have about 400 thousand children who are obese, two and half million adults who are obese," said Olga Dazzo, Director of Michigan Department of Community Health.

But something is being done.

"All of us need to be aware of the public health crisis we have on our hands and take action to turn the tide around," said Dazzo.

Recently a health and wellness plan was released by the Michigan Department of Community Health in order to tackle this issue of weight in Michigan.

"The Michigan 4 by 4 PLAN is a simple method to maintain our health or attain health," said Dazzo.

"So the four healthy behaviors are eat right, exercise, go visit the doctor at least once a year and stop smoking," said Dazzo.

And there are four ways you can calculate if your on the right track.

"The 4 healthy measures are BMI, Body mass index, so are you within norms. Your blood pressure, your cholesterol and your blood sugar levels," said Dazzo.

The plan strives to get residents to engage in a better lifestyle.

"The key goal of this plan is for every Michigander to adopt health for a personal core value," said Dazzo.

Its a big step for the state, but it all starts with people being aware of the problem, then taking action and working in the right direction.

ORIGINAL STORY: LANSING - Find out how the state is trying to rid of a big problem among Michigan residents on the next Meridian Magazine.