Breastfeeding: All research shows that breastfed babies are less likely to become obese, and countries which have high breastfeeding rates (in some parts of Scandinavia especially) have lower rates of childhood obesity. There are a lot of cultural barriers to overcome though, and breastfeeding needs to be more widely accepted in public, in workplaces, etc in order for this to be effective.

Eliminate sugary beverages: Many toddlers are fed juice in sippy cups, and they become accustomed to drinking sweet things. This carries right through to adolescence and adulthood, and the drinks become "fancy" bottled beverages and soda. Ensuring that all kids have ready access to water (clean public water, not bottled) is important and banning sugary drinks from schools will help eliminate this habit.

Availability of Fruits and Vegetables: The unfortunate truth is that 200 calories worth of junk food costs 10 times less than 200 calories worth of vegetables. It is not realistic to expect struggling families to afford foods with this cost structure. There needs to be a better means to getting the fruits and vegetables to the families, and to schools and after-school programs. Also, many schools have eliminated candy from the school system - parents complained as this was a major source of fundraising, but it is an important step in the right direction.

Eliminating marketing of unhealthy foods to kids: No matter how much kids learn about nutrition and what they are fed, they are bombarded with marketing of junk food. One speaker (who was from Europe) really believed that if the US could develop laws eliminating this marketing it would be extremely beneficial, but he recognized that this type of approach wasn't readily accepted here.

Limiting screen time: Regardless of overall level of activity, the kids with the least screen time (TV, video game, and computer) showed the lowest rates of obesity. Most important was getting TVs out of kids bedrooms.

After-school/Summer Programs: Research revealed that kids were often gaining a disproportionate amount of weight in the summertime, possibly because they were bored, watching TV and eating. Many people felt that the regular school day wasn't the issue - it was after school and summer when kids needed the most structure for activity and healthy foods. The biggest issue of course is funding, and the difficulty in getting older kids to participate in such programs.

Increase Activity: Yup, you all knew this was coming, right? There was an incredibly dynamic speaker who really advocated for making the streets safe for all families to walk and ride bikes. One of the most innovative ideas he implemented in his area was a walking school bus. Parents took turns volunteering, walking the route to pick up all the kids and get them to school safely. He talked a lot about "stickier" activity - things that you keep doing even after programs end. Making activity part of your daily routine (commuting, shopping, etc) was more likely to stick than specific exercise programs. He also talked about a speed table (like a raised speed bump) built near a kids park, which allowed parents to let their kids walk to the park.