When a third grader in Ohio weighed 200 pounds he was taken away from his mother and placed in foster care because he was severely obese. Has the state gone too far? Social workers worked with the boy's mother for years to control her son's weight, but she did nothing. County spokesmen said "medical negligence" was the reason her eight-year-old son was removed from his Cleveland (Jaslow) home. Childhood obesity has more than tripled in the last thirty years (USA, CDC). As childhood obesity continues to increase at an alarming rate in America, pediatric nurses must partner with mainstream society to promote healthy eating, help implement a free course for parents to teach their children healthier lifestyles and increase physical activity. Childhood obesity is a condition in which excess body fat negatively affects a child's health or well-being. It is defined as a maximum body index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile for children of the same age and sex (USA, CDC: Basics). Childhood obesity will always be a persistent problem due to lack of physical activity, excessive calorie consumption due to lack of education. In this case the parents and the school have launched targeted programs to encourage/teach better food choices to children. Also the widespread availability of fast/processed food at every corner turns, increase in sedentary activities; Children used to playing outside with friends are now chatting online, watching TV, playing video games and using the Internet obsessively. Children who lack proficiency in particular sports end up hating them and abandoning them when they are old enough (USA, CDC: Problem). If these factors do not change we will continue to see an increase in childhood obesity. The first step to solving the child's problem... in the center of the card... living a healthy lifestyle. February 2012. http://helpguide.org/mental/childhood_obesity.htmUnited States. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Overweight and obesity: basics of childhood obesity. April 26, 2011 http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/basics.htmlUnited States. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Overweight and obesity: a growing problem. November 28, 2011 http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/problem.htmlAnderson, Susan. Our Children Are Supersized Childhood Obesity is-growing&catid= 1:children&Itemid=8Pinder, Michelle. Personal interview. January 28, 2012Colline, Andrew. Physical activity and obesity in children. June 26, 2011 http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/45/11/866.abstract