Although the obesity epidemic in the U.S. is in full swing, at least many of us have normal cholesterol levels. Well, according to a report out this week from the federal government.

The average 'bad' cholesterol level of the typical American is 199, which is actually an ideal level based on current cholesterol research. Now, here is where things take a weird turn -- that level is the 'ideal' range for the first time in fifty years.

I'm not sure methods for measurement were around fifty years ago when it comes to cholesterol, but there you have it. Straight from the government's medical geniuses.

Is this a PR piece for pharmaceutical drugs meant to lower cholesterol or is this a legitimate finding? Hard to tell, but with the report mentioning the use of cholesterol pills being the main reason for the surprise lower levels here, I'm quite skeptic. Are you?