Childhood obesity is on the rise. Nearly 20 percent of U.S. children are obese. Three decades ago, that number was only about 7 percent.

Most weight problems are caused by too little activity and too much food. Most children who are overweight don’t need to diet.

The analysis of more than 15,000 young people in the United States found about a third of the cases of depression and obesity among those teens could be attributed to being from families with low incomes.

Baby fat is something children are supposed to outgrow, not grow in to. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), one in five children in the United States is overweight or obese.

At one time, an overweight child was more the exception than the rule. But these days, the number of obese children in the United States is increasing at an alarming rate.

Six states now make schools measure students' heights and weights for so-called body mass index report cards.

You're as likely to keep children from eating fast food as you are to get them to stop playing computer games. Fast food is part of Americans' lifestyle.

The struggle to develop good eating habits among toddlers, preschoolers and older children seems never-ending. But encouraging children to eat right doesn't require battle, just some common sense.

"There are still many misconceptions that keep people from getting fit," says Kathie Davis, executive director and co-founder of IDEA.

Some children are very involved in competitive sports, but many other youngsters get no exercise at all. That lack of exercise is tied to an increase in childhood weight problems.

Obesity is the most common health problem facing children, child health experts say. More than 30 percent of children and teens are overweight, and 15 percent are obese.

What happened? Not so long ago, when school was out and the weather was nice, kids were always outside, climbing trees, swinging or playing games.

Until recently, type 2 diabetes was also known as adult-onset diabetes. Now, the adult-onset prefix has been dropped because so many children are developing the condition.

By teaching your kids to follow a healthy lifestyle, you can help reduce their risk for heart disease later in life. Although children and teens usually don't show the symptoms of heart disease, the silent buildup of plaque (fatty deposits) can start in childhood and can have a serious impact on their adult life.