A new study finds that although Americans are the fattest people in the world, it’s for a good reason.

Quality of life surveys are a staple in the media, and especially popular are the ones that rank the United States below Socialist nations. But here’s one that stands out. Sure the headline seems derogatory: “U.S most obese in the world, fattest kids by a mile, tops for poor teen health”, but further down in the article are some statistics that don’t often get reported:

But the U.S. shines when it comes to personal wealth and even the number of rooms in our homes, said the organization that charts the personal and economic health of countries.

Despite the economic downturn, and the bleak statistics often cited by people who want to see a Socialist America, we’re still the richest nation in the world. We’d have to be. When a nation is besieged by actual poverty, no one can afford to get fat.  It’s a luxury. Which is why 17th century artists depicted heaven as a place overflowing with obesity.