Approximately 10% of 2- to 5-year-olds and 15% of 6- to 10-year-olds are overweight. Overweight in kids and adults is measured by Body Mass Index (BMI). That’s weight in kilograms divided by height in meters, squared. Here is a free BMI calculator with the guidelines for kids and for adults (theyr’re different!)

Kids younger than 8 see about 40,000 TV ads annually–and most are for high calorie, low nutrient cereals, juice drinks, candy, pop and snacks. Turning off the television, or limiting it to just an hour a day can avoid the wrong messages to kids, and is a good place to start.

But dieting for kids is not the answer: 25% of girls and 15% of boys have tried dieting, and kids who diet actually may binge-eat, and gain more weight than they lose, according to a Pediatrics study.

Instead, find a doctor who will give you a private program, or read up on your own–here is The Kaiser Family Foundation’s report on the role of media in childhood obesity ,
the U.S. Surgeon General’s action plan to prevent obesity in children and adolescents , and information on the AMA working group on childhood obesity.