Those concerns prompted one Sylvania girl and her family to reach out for help and make some big changes.
Madison Moody, 10, is taking a shot at living a healthier life. Her pediatrician had concerns about her weight, particularly the possibility of diabetes, and suggested to her parents a program called Healthy Kids at Toledo Children's Hospital.
Dietician Jodi Augustyniak runs the program. "We encourage kids of all sizes and shapes to come to the class and just learn about eating healthier, because it's not about being thin or skinny. It's about being healthy."
Madison's made some big changes. She compares labels on foods to understand what's healthy and what's not. What does she look for on the label? "Calories, serving size, servings per container."
Her mother Natanya says, "She keeps a journal of what she eats. She has to exercise at least 30 minutes a day, so we try to do that."
The exercise part isn't hard. Her mom says Madison's always been an active child. She golfs with the Toledo Minority Golf Association, and her dad helps with that. She also likes shooting hoops with her big sister.
In terms of diet, the whole family's made some changes: no salt, whole wheat bread and pasta, frozen veggies- not canned, no pop in the house at all. If Madison's thirsty, she'll drink water. And there's always a pitcher of Crystal Light in the fridge.
What is Madison learning about foods that aren't healthy? "Sweets are not really good. Fats and sugars. And if you get a lot of butter and stuff like that, it's not really good. You can gain a lot of weight."
Any pediatrician will tell you there is a health crisis among American children. Pediatrician Dr. R.W. Mills says, "No question about it. It's kind of staggering, the increase in the incidence in child obesity. We're now looking at up to close to 1 in 3 of our patients actually have defined obesity. Some of these kids are off the chart. And we need to do something, because the fact is that 70 percent of children that are overweight as a child will be overweight as an adult."
Childhood obesity can bring not only physical health issues, but trouble with self esteem, and self image. Madison says she's noticed people stare at her sometimes, and she doesn't like it.
Instead she's focusing on making healthy choices. That's led to a 15-pound weight loss and a new summer wardrobe.
Just yesterday the government came out with a plan to tackle child obesity, including recommendations for schools, parents and others. And First Lady Michelle Obama has taken on the issue with her campaign "Let's Move".
If you're interested in the Toledo Children's Hospital "Healthy Kids" program for your child, you can call 419-291-4076.
