Obesity rates in the United States have been on the rise and although Vermont is ranked the number one healthiest state in the US, 26% of its children are either overweight or struggling with childhood obesity. The state of Vermont has begun research to collect data in order to address this issue.

Schools have begun educating children on nutrition to help them make the right choice when it comes to mealtime. Food safety and nutrition specialist, Dale Steen, says, “An important part in the whole education component is to have the children actually take part in the food preparation and food purchasing.”

It is important to treat this disease early before it becomes life threatening.

According to dietitian Sharon Anderson, “Children who are obese or overweight are at higher risk for developing diabetes and heart disease, especially if they have a family history of those things.”
The Lyndon Town School is one school that has started to incorporate programs to help children get more exercise outside of their physical education classes.

Lyndon Town School’s physical education teacher Lisa Paquette says, “They offer intramural programs there. They do games for four days a week after school and it’s been a great program for third through fifth graders.”
Having a good role model can help a child dealing with childhood obesity.

Dale Steen says, "Any significant adult in their life if they model good behaviors. Healthy behaviors than children are more apt to follow definitely. So if the parents are active and value physical education and activity and do it themselves than the children are more apt to be active also."