Nearly half of Americans ages 12 to 21 aren’t physically active on a regular basis, and participation in all types of physical activity declines as age or grade in school increases. Parental involvement can get kids moving again.

An estimated one in five American children is overweight. Serving them more healthful meals and exercising as a family can improve their short- and long-term health.

Parents can actively help their kids maintain a healthy weight by getting up, getting out and together making exercise fun. Doing so can make the whole family healthier.

Being obese increases a child’s risk for several serious childhood medical problems, including diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea and psychological disorders. And, in addition to childhood health risks, studies have found overweight kids are at greater risk of becoming obese adults, with all the health problems associated with obesity lasting through the life span.

Like adults, children should be physically active most, if not all, days of the week.

Excessive "screen time" has been identified as a direct cause of obesity in children because it replaces physical activity, increases eating and reduces metabolism.

Limiting the amount of TV children watch, the number of video games they play or the amount of computer time they have is an important step parents can take to get their kids moving.

These strategies can help you help your kids get a move on:

• Don’t call it "exercise." Instead, promote "play time" and encourage activities that are fun and physical, such as hopscotch or jumping rope.
• Find out what your children like to do and make this a focus of your family activities. Vary the activities, and let your children take turns choosing what the family will do.
• Participate in community fitness events, such as charity walks or fun-runs.
• Use family walks or bike rides as a time to do more than just exercise together. Talk about family issues when you’re taking a break.
• Relive your childhood by playing the games you loved as a kid. Play tag, Red Rover, hide-and-seek or any other fast-moving game.
• Plan outings that involve physical activity, such as going to a skating rink, the zoo or a miniature golf course.
• Turn chores into games. Have a water fight while washing the car. Pretend you’re digging for treasure while gardening.
• Invite neighborhood kids to play games that require more participants, such as capture- the-flag or kickball. But the best way for you to help your children get more exercise is to join in.

Being active as a family encourages children to choose an active lifestyle well into their adult years.