She was reportedly obese, in a declining state of health and suffered from dementia.

To qualify, adults must be obese and have at least one pre-existing weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure.

Experts say it is linked to a "growing number" of more "complex" pregnancies - because the mother is older or obese, for example.

The latest data suggests that 45 percent of those Americans without a complete college education are obese, compared to some 27 percent of college-educated Americans.

"I got to the stage where I went 'if this continues, I'm going to end up morbidly obese in my late 30s'," she said.