We're surrounded by obese kids out here too. My children were never fat, but they also weren't allowed to sit on their butts. They actually played outside with their friends (who were't locked in the house glued to a game or t.v.) But if you sit in a fast food place you will notice that some of those kids have trouble walking they are so fat. I've noticed that most times, the parents are also obese, especially the moms, so they encourage these kids to eat out of proportion foods. Have you ever noticed a child eating a salad? I have also read that if you were a chubby child you became an obese adult. In some cases I can see where it is true, but I don't know if it's a general rule. We had a neighbor with such an obese little boy that he had to start taking meds for a cholesterol problem at age seven....how sad is that.