Although adults are increasingly aware of the problem, most remain perplexed about how to solve it. One attempt to remedy this problem is a new book entitled We're Killing Our Kids: How to End the Epidemic of Overweight and Sedentary Children. According to author Todd Hollander, "The children of America are the most overweight children in the world. Nearly one third of our children are overweight, and about half of these are obese. As a result of this epidemic, America’s young people are heading for a train wreck of disease, disability, and premature death."

Hollander’s perspective on the obesity epidemic is unique. He is not a physician, nor a diet or exercise guru, but a market research expert. Like millions of Americans, he spent the better part of his adult life struggling with a weight problem. Despite strict adherence to a low-fat diet, as he approached his 40th birthday he found himself 30 pounds overweight and suffering from high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high triglycerides.

Frustrated and concerned about his health, he decided to put his market research expertise to the test. "After all," he said, "if I could help some of the nation’s most successful companies solve their problems, surely I could apply the same skills to discover why the recommended diet was not helping me lose weight."

Hollander started by conducting extensive research on the topic of human nutrition. What he learned shocked him. "It became clear that the low-fat high-carbohydrate diet was not only incapable of solving my weight problem-it seemed to be causing it," he said.

As he continued his research, Hollander looked at how his family was functioning. Observing his twin 13-year-old daughters and 9-year-old son, he realized that with the best of intentions, he and his wife had been serving the children meals and snacks that were virtually guaranteed to make them overweight. "Compounding this problem was the fact that the children’s lives had become increasingly sedentary," he said. "The remedy was not only to change their diet but also to increase their physical activity."

We’re Killing Our Kids is the result not only of Hollander’s extensive research, but also the experience of applying what he learned in his own household. Offered as a motivational and practical guidebook, its purpose is to enable parents, grandparents, educators, and other concerned adults to help children develop lifelong habits of healthy eating and physical fitness.

The book begins by explaining how to objectively assess a child's weight. Next, it details the 10 leading causes of overweight children, including shocking data about the dramatic increase in the consumption of sugar, the poor nutrition in the nation’s schools, and a startling revelation about how the USDA dietary guidelines were developed.

In addition to discussing the physical, economic, and psychological consequences of childhood obesity, We’re Killing Our Kids debunks a number of myths about nutrition and weight loss. According to the author, "most people know that childhood overweight is caused by a combination of poor nutrition and lack of exercise. The problem is that the majority of us are confused about what children should eat and how often they should exercise." To remedy this problem, Hollander presents vital information about protein, carbohydrates, dietary fat, cardiovascular exercise, and strength training.

The book offers a practical step-by-step plan for helping children develop a lifestyle of proper nutrition and physical activity. The focus of the plan is to engage children in the process of adopting a healthy lifestyle. According to Hollander, the most effective role for an adult is as a coach rather than a cop, because authoritarian tactics and radical changes are likely to produce resistance or rebellion. "Understanding what to change is only half of the equation," he said. "The other half is having a strategy for making children willing and eager participants in the process."

As part of this strategy, Hollander encourages parents to model the behavior they want to engender in their children. Claiming "hypocrisy has no place in this plan," he advises parents who are overweight to focus on their own diet and exercise regimens for at least 30 days before even broaching the topic with their children. "It’s the old physician heal thyself thing," he said.

For adults who are concerned about the problem of overweight and sedentary children, We’re Killing Our Kids offers a practical solution. By illuminating the extent and consequences of this epidemic, it also points out the urgency of taking action to end it.