Millions of American children share a very traumatic problem: obesity. Doctors say the number of overweight and out of shape kids is alarmingly high. Family Specialist Shelley Osterloh has been looking into the problem and joins us with the story.

It's estimated that one in four American children is overweight. Here in Utah, 1 in six kids is overweight. But for all children, the number of overweight and out-of-shape kids continues to increase. These couch potato kids may face of life-time of health problmes.

((Dawn Butcher / Exercise Physiologist / Primary Children Medical Center: "THE NUMBERS GO UP AS FAR AS 50% OF KIDS ARE NOT ACTIVE... THEY ARE SEDENTARY, LAYING ON COUCHES DOING NOTHING."))

((Ben, age 15: I ATE A LOT OF CHEESE AND I DID PLAY A LOT OF VIDEO GAMES.))

((Lisa, age 16: "IN MY SCHOOL, THEY USUSALLY ARE AROUND THE MACHINES GETTING CANDY BARS AND STUFF LIKE THAT."))

((Carolyn Larsen / Parent: "WE'VE BEEN BROUGHT UP ON FAST FOODS, WE'VE BEEN BROUGHT UP ON CANNED MEALS... IT'S TIME TO GO BACK TO BASICS."))

Most people agree the reason kids are heavier and less fit is lack of exercise and they way they eat. Physical Education teachers see it every day. Kids who can't do as many sit-ups, or run as fast.

((Doug Wixom / Middle School PE Teacher: "THE THING THAT WE'VE FOUND OVER THE LAST 10, 15 YEARS IS THAT STUDENTS USED TO GO OUT AFTER SCHOOL AND PLAY SANDLOT GAMES IN THE BACK YARD.. DON'T DO THAT MUCH ANY MORE."))

((Laura Pace Middle School PE teacher: "THERE'S SO MANY GADGETS AND FADS OUT THERE...THAT THEY SAY, I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY... I'VE EVEN HAD KIDS IN HERE RAISE THEIR HAND ON FEN FEN AND THAT'S SCARY."))

Health professionals say kids who over weight, eat poorly, and don't exercise are at risk later in life for high cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, heart disease and cancer. But even as children, the emotional price of being overweight is high.

((Danielle, age 7: IT JUST MAKES ME FEEL SAD.))

((Danielle's Mother: "AND OF HER BEING CONCERNED... GOING INTO A STORE AND SAYING, MOMMY, THE LITTLE PEOPLE GET TO WEAR SUCH CUTE CLOTHES... AND THAT BRINGS TEARS TO YOUR EYES."))

15 year old Ben says he used to get teased about his weight and get in fights over it. But now that he's older, it doesn't bother him so much.

((Ben, age 15: "IF I THOUGHT ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME, HOW PEOPLE MAKE FUN OF ME... I'D BE SAD PERSON."))

Instead Ben, Dannielle and other children, are doing something about their weight. They and their parents attend a Family Food Fitness Class at Primary Children's Medical Center. Here the focus is not so much on loosing weight as much a changing lifestyles.

((Dawn Butcher/ Exercise Physiologist / Primary Children Medical Center: "THEY ARE MAKING SMALL STEPS TOWARDS BEING HEALTHIER... NOW, TODAY, TOMORROW, AND 20 YEARS FROM NOW."))

Tomorrow on Eyewitness News Live at Five, we'll see why this program is so successful and what your family can do, now, today and tomorrow to make sure your children are no "Couch Potato Kids."