It's a scary trend that could lead our current generation of kids to become the first in history to live shorter lives then their parents. The trend is childhood obesity.

Whether it's eating healthier or exercising more, many adults are taking on the popular New Year's resolution of losing weight, but in the new 4 Your Children, Rhonda Walker explains why this resolution would be better served if its for every member of the family.

Poor food choices and lack of physical activity have lead 15 percent of children nationwide to become overweight.

Childhood obesity is a life-threatening problem. It puts children at risk for health concerns normally found in adults, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

An overweight child is nearly 100 percent more likely to be an overweight adult. It's also a social stigma that can lead to years of low self-esteem and poor self-image.

What's even scarier, if childhood obesity continues to rise, it will cut years off of the average lifespan.

Your kid's eating habits are up to you and if you think their schools will handle their physical activity, think again. According to the Journal of School Health, less than 10 percent of schools provide the adequate amount of necessary activity.

Out of deep concern, former President Bill Clinton launched a 10-year initiative to combat childhood obesity. A partnership with American Heart association launched the Alliance for a Healthy Generation, targeting young people ages 9 to 13 and their parents.

Not just for overweight kids, the alliance is for all kids. Their Web site offers children fun ways to learn healthy habits with hilarious advertising spoofs, a game show, alarming statistics, a survey and more.

The best thing for parents to so is to set a good example with physical activity and healthy food choices. From getting your non-athletic child physically active and do's and don'ts of dealing with a picky eater that always puts up a fight when it's time to eat the veggies, the Alliance for a Healthy Generation can help.

Get on your way to raising healthy children this new year by joining the alliance.

Have a Picky Eater at Home? Try This!

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Don't buy unhealthy foods. Start off the new year by not stocking the pantry with cookies and chips. Instead, load up on handy treats like carrots and apples. When the kids get hungry, they'll eat them.

Cut treats, but remember not to cut treats all together. Doing that could actually backfire. Instead teach moderation. A small scoop of ice cream or occasional serving of cookies is OK.

Eat your colors. For younger chidlren , encourage the e at y our c olors game . Foods bland in color lack nutrients. Brightly-colored foods have more nutrients.

Get rid of the clean your plate rule. It encourages overeating. As with adults, children know when they're full.

No clean your plate rule. Get rid of the clean your plate rule. It encourages overeating. As with adults, kids too know when they're full.

Be a good role model. The best way to encourage kids is by example. If you don't eat the spinach, your kids probably won't either.

Top Ten Ways to Help Children Develop Healthy Habits

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Be a positive role model. If you're practicing healthy habits, it's a lot easier to convince children to do the same.

Get the whole family active. Plan times for everyone to get moving together. Take walks, ride bikes, go swimming, garden or just play hide-and-seek outside. Everyone will benefit from the exercise and the time together.

Limit TV, video game and computer time. These habits lead to a sedentary lifestyle and excessive snacking, which increase risks for obesity and cardiovascular disease.

Encourage physical activities that children enjoy. Every child is unique. Let children experiment with different activities until each finds something that he or she really loves doing. They'll stick with it longer if they love it.

Be supportive. Focus on the positive instead of the negative. Everyone likes to be praised for a job well done. Celebrate successes and help children and teens develop a good self-image.

Set specific goals and limits such as one hour of physical activity a day or two desserts per week, other than fruit. When goals are too abstract or limits too restrictive, the chance for success decreases.

Don't reward children with food. Candy and snacks as a reward encourage bad habits. Find other ways to celebrate good behavior.

Make dinnertime a family time. When everyone sits down together to eat, there's less chance of children eating the wrong foods or snacking too much. Get the kids involved in cooking and planning meals. Everyone develops good eating habits together and the quality time with the family will be an added bonus.

Make a game of reading food labels. The entire family will learn what's good for their health and be more conscious of what they eat. It's a habit that helps change behavior for a lifetime.

Stay involved. Be an advocate for healthier children. Insist on good food choices at school. Make sure your children's healthcare providers are monitoring cardiovascular indicators such as BMI, blood pressure and cholesterol. Contact public officials on matters of the heart. Make your voice heard.

Related Links:

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www.healthiergeneration.org.

www.healthiergeneration.org/kids.