Everywhere you look now days you see children who are over weight and out of shape. It amazes me because it seems like everyone from Richard Simmons to Oprah has an exercise program. There's a different machine being sold for every muscle in the body. Why are we seeing this weight problem in every school in the nation. So where does childhood obesity begin?

If you look at what's going on right now, two-thirds of Americans are obese. Two-thirds!! The stats estimate there are 300 million people in the United States, that means 200 million of us are taking up too much space.

In 1991 no state in the United States had an obesity rate above twenty per cent. The National average in 1980 was fifteen per cent.

So what's it look like now?

Adult obesity has gone up in 23 states and has not gone down in any state.

Adult obesity rates exceed twenty five per cent in 31 states and exceed twenty per cent in 49 states.

16 states experienced an increase in obesity for the second year in a row.

11 states experienced an increase for a third straight year.

Four states Tennessee, Alabama, West Virginia and Mississippi are above 30 per cent and Mississippi is the highest at 32.5 per cent for five straight years. 8 of the 10 states with the highest rates are in the south.

Children between 2 and 5 years old that are over weight are four times as likely to be over weight adults. Mississippi has the highest rate of obesity for children between the ages of 10-17 at 44%. The ratio of states that have the biggest weight problem in adults also have the biggest problem in their children.

The answer to our question "Where Does Childhood Obesity Begin?" is at Home ! We are teaching our kids how to eat from the day they are born til the day they are on their own. They are like little computers and if you put garbage into a computer you get garbage out. So if you teach a child to eat poorly, then that's all they know. Educate yourself first and learn what is healthy. It takes time and dedication to replace established behaviors with new, healthier behaviors. Find exercises you can fit into your daily schedule and include the other members of the family. Go to http://www.squidoo.com/childhoodobesitystartbattlefor the tools you will need to be successful.