Dear Dr. Levister:  My 6-year-old is overweight. At home I encourage her to eat fruits and vegetables. I don't buy sweet cereals or salty snacks. What can I do before her weight gets out of control?  P.W.

Dear P.W. Obesity is a national epidemic. It's a huge problem, but it's an even larger problem in the African-American community.  In fact the highest group of children getting diabetes type 2, which used to be a disease of adults, are all obese and the majority are African-Americans.

Ernest Levister Jr.

The obesity concern is not just physical activity, its nutrition, its access to areas where kids can engage in physical activity or physical education or sports or just play.

Parents, teachers and other role models can help fight obesity by setting a good example. Rewarding your kid with a Happy Meal does not teach her good eating habits. Invest in a kid's cookbook. Make an afternoon of preparing her favorite foods. The key is educating your child - five years down the road you want her to say I'll have a salad rather than a double cheeseburger or I'll choose cheerleading over watching television.    

In fact if Black children don't start exercising regularly and eating more nutritional foods, they are headed for a host of medical problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and stroke.