Childhood and adolescent obesity rates have reached epidemic proportions in the United States and are growing. The sedentary routines found in schools and in the home as well as the overexposure to unhealthy snacks and nonnutritional foods contribute to the pervasiveness of this disease that afflicts America's children. Obese children face significant health risks such as Type 2 diabetes, tooth decay, and depression. This epidemic has significant implications for the public education and health sectors of the nation. In response, many federal and state policies have been implemented or are being initiated to address these concerns. This policy brief examines the scope of the childhood obesity epidemic in the U.S. and in the state of Indiana, considers the relationship between the school environment and student health, reviews policy initiatives underway to address this problem, and offer policy recommendations to more effectively address obesity in Indiana. (Contains 2 tables, 3 figures, and 47 endnotes.) [This report was published by the Center for Evaluation and Education Policy.]