As many of my regular viewers to this web blog know, there are many factors contributing to childhood obesity. I post daily here about it, whether news print articles, opinions, feedback, or just personal opinion.

Recently, I wrote an article for Yahoo! (click here) about childhood obesity. I started searching for sources for this article, and received over 100 responses to the question, “What do you think caused the rise in childhood obesity?” Responses came from professional and Olympic athletes, fitness experts, health experts, nutritionist, and parents.

I was unable to use everyone’s feedback, but thought it would be great to post some of their responses on my blog in a new web series, “What Causes Childhood Obesity.” I hope that you enjoy the opinions here from various individuals. Please remember, my including their posts does not necessarily mean I agree or endorse their opinion, rather, a place to share other people’s thoughts.

Our food system is skewed toward processed and fast foods as the most accessible, cheapest and most abundant choices offered. Every out-of-home eating venue from our schools to the post-game snack at the soccer field is usually a processed food item. Few of us realize this, but if we all woke up tomorrow and said, “Today my family is going to eat real foods!” there would be a massive shortage of fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy and whole grains. Our food supply is that far out of balance.

What one change would immediately improve the health of our kids? Eat more real food. Fruits not juice or gummy “froot snacks.” Vegetables besides fried potatoes. Whole grains that are not refined or served up “frosted.” Milk without the extra four teaspoons of sugar and artificial chocolate flavor. That one thing would immediately reduce the amount of salt, saturated fat, sugars (including HFCS) in our children’s diets.

Beth Bader, co-author of The Cleaner Plate Club