The growing waistlines of America's children are concerning researchers and educators alike. This concern is compounded by the lack of a scientifically valid yet practical way to "fix" the problem.

On May 3-5 in Atlanta, GA, researchers, public health professionals, program administrators and health professionals gathered to share information, build relationships and offer strategies for intervention-with the goal of preventing childhood obesity in the future. The meeting, Childhood Obesity: Partnerships for Prevention, was sponsored by The International Life Sciences Institute's Research Foundation, Emory University, American Cancer Society, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health.

The conference combined plenary presentations with working group discussions that centered on the three settings for childhood obesity prevention: the health care system, schools and the community. On the final day, the results of the working groups were presented and discussed by the conference participants and an expert panel.

The conference participants identified many exciting programs currently being conducted in the different settings and shared ideas on what worked and what didn't work. All participants agreed about the need to make childhood obesity prevention a public health priority and to better coordinate efforts through traditional and non-traditional partnerships.