Slimmer kids? We're trying. (On the web: www.cspinet.org).

Childhood obesity rates have tripled over the last two decades. So many children are now getting the type of diabetes linked to obesity that it can no longer be called "adult-onset." The calorie-dense, fatty, salty diet eaten by American children and a lack of physical activity also mean that a quarter of kids 5 to 10 years old have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or some other contributor to heart disease.

While that's shocking, it shouldn't be surprising. Children today live in a junk-food culture. Parents don't stand a chance against slick marketing campaigns that encourage youngsters to eat too much of the wrong foods. Kids are inactive because of television, video games, communities designed for driving rather than walking, and less physical education in schools.

Government's response to childhood obesity is like treating a brain tumor with an aspirin. Far more needs to be done. Here's some of what Nutrition Action's publisher, the Center for Science in the Public Interest, is doing to help parents fight off the junk-food peddlers:

* Smart-Mouth.org. Our new interactive Web site entertains kids while it teaches them how the food industry, fast-food restaurants, and food ads influence what they eat. Please tell your children and grandchildren about it (and tell them not to forget the hyphen in the name).

* Calories on menus. We're urging Congress and state and local legislatures to pass laws to require fast-food and other chain restaurants to list calories on their menus and menu boards.

* Junk food in schools. We're urging Congress, states, and local school districts to get soda, candy, and other junk foods out of schools, and to offer more fruits, vegetables, low-fat milk, and other healthful foods.

Ultimately, parents bear the responsibility for what their children eat and how much exercise they get. But protecting children's health shouldn't be like swimming upstream. We're committed to making it easier for families to stay healthy. To find out what you can do, go to www.cspinet.org/ nutritionpolicy.

Michael F. Jacobson, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Center for Science in the Public Interest