Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States and threatens to impact the health and wellbeing of numerous children and adolescents. The number of overweight youth has more than doubled since the early 1970s. Today, approximately 13 percent of children and adolescents, nearly 5.3 million youth, are seriously overweight. Since most children and adolescents are enrolled in schools, schools present a unique opportunity to promote healthy eating and regular physical activity. States, school districts, and schools are addressing childhood obesity through multi-pronged strategies that include developing school nutrition and physical activity policies, implementing classroom instruction in nutrition and physical education, and creating a supportive school environment. States can help prevent and reduce obesity in school-age youth by developing policy and program guidelines for schools; strengthening physical activity requirements, standards, and programs in schools; implementing nutrition policies and education programs; fostering school and community partnerships that promote regular physical activity; engaging students, school faculty, families, and communities in promoting healthy eating and regular physical activity; and creating public awareness and education campaigns. (Author/SM)