More and more children are getting obese. The amount of excessively overweight children has doubled in the last twenty years. Twenty years ago, only 5% of all children were obese. Today over 15% falls into that category. Statistics indicate that 30% of all American children are overweight and 15% are obese. Studies estimate that one in five children are obese and that the 64% of the world's total population is overweight.

Over 10% percent of preschool children between ages two and five in America are overweight. Research has also found lowered self-esteem in children as young as five who are overweight. Studies show that children with obesity in their preteens will have a 70% percent chance of being obese in their adult years.

Fast food restaurants are everywhere, including hospitals, schools and superstores. Advertisers spend billions of dollars on food ads contributing to obesity. Some of the leading risk factors of coronary heart disease include high blood fats, high blood pressure, obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood sugar, and lack of exercise.

High blood fats are caused by the increase and over-consumption of saturated fat. Parents must limit their children's diet to less than 25% fat and only 10% saturated fat. A poor diet and excessive weight gain causes obesity. Children must have regulated healthy diets to maintain a healthy weight.

Parents can also help with overeating by resigning themselves and their children from the clean plate club. Let children fill their plates themselves and prohibiting them from eating snacks from bags; instead have them put snacks into a small plate or bowl. Excess calories can be eliminated by teaching children to have smaller portions and limit their second servings of meal helpings.

Type 2 Diabetes, once considered a disorder for overweight adults, is now a major factor in children's medical problems. Last of all obesity has soared with the excessive availability of poor food choices in lunches and cafeterias in the country.

Children are also more sedentary now than ever before. By the age of seventeen, a child has spent 38% more time in front of the television than in school. Instead of running on the playground, they play computer games and prefer to stay inside and watch television to doing activities outside. Children are not getting enough physical activity.

Studies show that children need 30 to 60 minutes of activity most days of the week. Physical Education classes typically only allow children to be vigorously exercising three minutes a day. In 1969, 80% of all children played sports. Today only 20% of all children regularly participate in sports.

Parents can reverse the curse of inactivity by limiting television time, taking a family walk, and spending time playing at the local recreational center or park district. Parents should walk as much as possible and encourage their children to do so as well. A side benefit will result in improved communication time walking with other family members.

A successful parent must live a consistent lifestyle by eating healthy, limiting their visits to fast food restaurants, and exercising regularly. By doing that, you are helping children avoid the diseases and health problems of the present and preparing them for a healthy future.

Chris Chapan is a well-known fitness professional in the USA and will regularly writing articles for GetKidsActive.com. For more information on anything in this article or on GetKidsActive.com please email us.