Childhood obesity has tripled in our country since 1980. About 16 percent of our kids are obese. A child who is obese is much more likely to become an obese adult and suffer from a heart condition, diabetes or cancer. These physical burdens are also an economic burden for the patient and our society as a whole.

Parents can help obese kids slim down in a number of ways. First, make losing weight a family affair. Singling-out a child who needs to lose weight, while the rest of the family behaves differently is a set-up for failure. Healthy living should be pervasive throughout the entire family unit. That means removing all the junk food from the house and filling it with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and low fat protein like skim milk, lowfat yogurt, fish and lean poultry.

Families should refrain from getting fast food or even eating in restaurants. Make every effort to sit down together at a table for meals. Keep portions small, about the size of a fist. Make sure during dinnertime, all electronics are off.

And keep them off. The television, cell phone, video games and the computer should stay off unless they're being used for school or work.

Parents should get outside with their child and make exercise a part of the family activity. Taking a walk together after dinner or waking up early to walk through the neighborhood is just one idea.

The entire family should learn together the facts about basic nutrition, such as how many calories and how much exercise is right for each member of the family.