"Preventing Childhood Obesity provides a broad-based examination of the nature, extent, and consequences of obesity in U.S. children and youth, including the social environmental medical and dietary factors responsible for its increased prevalence. The book also offers a prevention-oriented action plan that identifies the most promising array of short-term and long-term interventions as well as recommendations for the roles and responsibilities of numerous stakeholders in various sectors of society. Preventing Childhood Obesity explores the underlying causes of this serious health problem and the actions needed to initiale, support, and sustain the societal and lifestyle changes that can reverse the trend among our children and youth."--BOOK JACKET