Fixing the apple by fixing the tree

It goes without saying that we have a growing, out-of-control childhood overweight/obesity problem in this country. It is estimated that there are 25 million children that are overweight or obese in the United States.

Since the apple does not fall far from the tree, we undoubtedly have at least that many overweight parents, who can be a direct or indirect source of the problem. This is why I have chosen to attack the childhood weight problem with this idea: "if I can correct the parent's weight problem early in the child's formative years, then directly or indirectly, I can cause the child's weight problem to resolve as well—barring related medical issues." That's why you'll find the this site's content skewed toward the parents with support information for the child.

Speaking of the child's age, I have targeted the 8-12 year old child, because to an eight-year-old child, the parent becomes more of a role model for many childhood traits (language, mannerisms, weight status, etc). By the age of 13, the child will rely less on the parent and more on TV characters, internet sources, other children, etc., to cause and affect change, and to develop patterns of action and association. In other words, let's affect positive change and reinforce it for those four formative years to achieve our goal of proper body weight stabilization.