Given the rising rates of obesity among American children, keeping kids healthy and fit is a priority for many parents. As grim as the statistics may seem, conscientious parents of young children should take heart: There are things you can do and ways you can live that will help keep your family healthy and fit.

Many ideas seem great in theory, but the challenge is turning good ideas into good practices—and good practices need to begin with the parents. "Developing healthy eating and activity habits is a family issue," says pediatrician Dr. Mary L. Gavin, MD, lead author of the comprehensive book Fit Kids. "Parents are not only the primary gatekeepers of the family food supply, but they should also lead by example."

Dr. Gavin and other children's health and fitness experts say that there are many small lifestyle changes that parents can make now to help their children stay healthy and avoid obesity later in life.