Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition that affects children and adolescents. It occurs when a child is well above the normal weight for his or her age and height. Childhood obesity is particularly troubling because the extra pounds often start children on the path to health problems that were once confined to adults, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Childhood obesity can also lead to poor self-esteem and depression. One of the best strategies to reduce childhood obesity is to improve the diet-using quality foods in limited portions and emphasize strict 60 minute/day exercise workouts of your entire family. Treating and preventing childhood obesity helps protect the health of your child now and in the future. Statisticians have prognositcated that this generation of children will have shorter lifespans than their parents due to poor eating habits and lack of exercise. Fast food, take out and loads of high carbohydrate snacks all account for the horrible food kids are eating today. Sitting in front of a computer monitor/television for hours without exercising is also accounting for the overweight/obesity problem. Family education is the key to preventing the epidemic and its ultimate horrible physical and emotional consequences.