Wednesday, October 1, 2008 --- 1:55 p.m.

TOKYO (AP) -- Flipper has to fight the flab. Dolphins at a Japanese marine park are going on a diet. Officials at Kinosaki Marine World say all 19 of their dolphins are too chubby. They've developed pot bellies and can't hit their jumping targets. Keepers weighed the animals and say some had put on as much 22 pounds over the summer.

The dolphins are now on a low fat diet. The problem isn't too many Twinkies, but too fat mackerels. The marine experts say the mackerels the dolphins eat have gotten fattier, which added calories. So, the dolphins are now getting less fat and swimming for exercise -- to trim their fins.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)