If you think your children’s extra pounds are just “baby fat” or that they’ll “grow out of it,” we’ve got some alarming news–chances are they won’t. Overweight and obese children tend to grow up to be overweight and obese adults.

And the consequences go far beyond being teased at school. Today, doctors are seeing diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, and heart disease–which once affected only adults in their fifties–striking children as young as six. The good news is that there is a lot you, as a parent, can do. The many small steps you take today can help your child and your family become healthier and happier tomorrow.