The National Institutes of Health recently awarded $3 million to researchers at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital to begin studies on ways to reduce obesity in children age two and under. Vanderbilt students are joining in this battle against childhood obesity.

Last fall, juniors Kristy Hamilton and Daniel Mayrsohn founded Healthy Head Start, a service organization that educates children and adolescents on healthful eating.

According to Hamilton, Tennessee ranks as one of the worst states in the nation when it comes to childhood obesity.

"We saw a need in the community and wanted to reach out to kids hit the hardest by obesity," she said.

With children in lower socioeconomic classes being at the greatest risk for obesity, Healthy Head Start primarily works in underprivileged areas of Nashville. They work closely with the Andrew Jackson Boys and Girls Club where they served a healthy Thanksgiving feast to over 120 people and now lead a bi-weekly health and nutrition curriculum.

"We really want to teach kids how to make the best decisions that they can with what they have," Hamilton said.

Additionally, they assist in home economic and physical education classes at a local high school and fitness classes at a local YMCA.

"Obesity is a huge issue. If you look at the data, the percentages of overweight, obese, and super-obese children climb each year," said Jamie Pope, a nutrition faculty member and Healthy Head Start adviser. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (1976-1980 and 2003-2006), obesity prevalence in children ages 12-19 alone has increased from five percent to 17.6 percent.

Pope said no clear-cut reason for this increase exists. It is due to a combination of both genetic factors and home environments that do not encourage physical activity and healthy eating.

"This is the first generation whose life span is projected to be shorter than their parents's. The best approach in decreasing obesity is to target children," Pope said.