Last week, President Obama launched National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, calling on all Americans to “take action by learning about and engaging in activities that promote healthy eating and greater physical activity by all our Nation’s children.”

With a third of children now overweight or obese, childhood obesity rates  have tripled since the 1970’s, and researchers predict that a third of kids born in 2000 will develop Type 2 Diabetes, an illness that was seen mostly in older adults until the past decade. Obese children are also at risk for related conditions like hypertension, heart disease, asthma and some cancers.

“As a Nation,” the president said,  “our greatest responsibility is to ensure the well-being of our children.  By taking action to address the issue of childhood obesity, we can help America’s next generation reach their full potential.”