A Five-Part Washington Post Series

Obesity Threatens a Generation

One-Third of U.S. Children are Overweight, Leaving the Health and Productivity of an Entire Generation at Risk

Interactive Tool

Buy Better Groceries

Often, similar looking products vary widely in sugar, fiber, fat and more. Compare some of your favorite foods and see how, as you shop, you can buy healthier choices. Go Shopping »

Part 2:
• Government Inaction »

Part 3:
• You Are Where You Live »

Part 4:
• Part Slimming Down Schools -- And Parents »

Part 5:
• The Search for Solutions »

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JIM BAUGH, Pediatrician: "The environment is the problem in the obesity epidemic in the vast majority of cases."
Watch »

The Series

About this series: We are all responsible for the childhood obesity epidemic: parents, government, schools, communities, companies, the health system. This five-day series searches for solutions.

PART 1: Sunday

• » Obesity Threatens a Generation
• » How to Choose Healthy and Keep Your Taste Buds Happy
• » Overview of Childhood Obesity
• » Facts You Should Know

PART 2: Monday

• » Inertia at The Top
• » Making Headway or Headed Nowhere?
• » High Profile Campaign Becomes Past Tense
• » What the Candidates Say
• » 21,000 Calories in Two Hours at High School
• » A Smart Snack Machine

PART 3: Tuesday

• » In D.C.: Where Kids Live Sets Tone for Weight Loss Success
• » The Suburbs: They Seem to Have It All and Are Still Overweight. Why?
• » Controversial "Fat School."
• » Healthy Home Ec

PART 4: Wednesday

• » One Big Barrier to Healthy Lunches: Parents
• » The new PE: If Schools Can't Offer More, They'll Try for Better
• » A Teacher's Public Pledge to Lose Weight
• » Young Food Critics Offer Schools Insider Help
• » 2 Area School System Menus Among Top 10

PART 5: Thursday

• » Doctors, Researchers are Perplexed
• » Maneuvering Restaurant Food
• » A Longtime Culprit Makes an "Epochal" Shift

Discuss the Problem, and Solutions

Lean Plate Club Discussion Group:
Chat with Sally Squires and readers about solutions to creating a healthier environment for all families.

• Transcript: Reporters Susan Levine and Rob Stein on the overweight epidemic.
• Transcript: Sally Squires on how to eat healthier and exercise.
• Transcript: Vicky Rideout from the Kaiser Family Foundation on how food advertising and marketing contributes to childhood obesity.

Interactives

Bodily Harm

An organ-by-organ look at how obesity kills slowly, causing damage from head to toe, with painful, lasting effects. Read »

What's Your Nutrition IQ?

Think you know all there is to feeding your family well? Take this quiz to see if you're right. Start »

Better Food Choices

• Breakfast | Juice | Snacks | Yogurt | Pizza

• Strategies to Help Teens Snack Smarter

• Five Days of Food to Tempt Children's Palates

• For Kids, a Healthful Lunch Is in the Bag

• Recipes: Minty Pea Pops | Peanut Butter Globe Globs | Blueberry Power Snack Turnovers

• More Kid-Friendly Health Recipes

Resources on the Web

• mypyramid.gov: Tips and guides, including an interactive tool to help analyze and improve daily diet and physical activity.
• smallstep.gov: Information on portion control, healthy eating, active living and local programs.
• BMI: Calculators to determine and interpret the body mass index for all ages.


More Resources »

For Kids

• A Heart-to-Heart Chat About Fat

• Birthday Celebrations Without the Sweets

• Before-School Dance Program Pairs Fun and Fitness

• 10 Facts About Nutrition, Fitness and Weight

PRINT | Editors: Lynn Medford, Ashley Halsey III; Photos: Carol Guzy -- The Washington Post
WEB | Editors: Jonathan Krim, Stacey Palosky; Design: Nelson Hsu, Sarah Sampsel; Multimedia: Nancy Donaldson -- washingtonpost.com