This clear, authoritative overview by an educator and a physician helps principals navigate their way through the many contradictory recommendations confronting them. The authors provide a targeted discussion of the "do's," "don'ts," and "can'ts" that school leaders need to know when creating and implementing new school policies for wellness, nutrition, fitness, and health. Student surveys and annotated guides to the best research accompany core chapters on: (1) Dealing with childhood obesity in schools and society; (2) Facilitating the principal's role as an agent of change; (3) Understanding the barriers that interfere with change; and (4) Developing school action plans for wellness, fitness, and stress reduction. Principals will find "Overcoming Obesity in Childhood and Adolescence" a timely resource for understanding and evaluating the challenges inherent in dealing with this growing health issue in schools and society. Following the Preface, Acknowledgments and About the Authors, this book contains five chapters: (1) Childhood Obesity, Schools, and Society; (2) The Principal's Role as an Agent of Change; (3) The Barriers We Face; (4) School Principal Action Plans; and (5) A Wellness Plan for You and Your School. This book also contains four resources: (1) Grades 3-5 Eating Survey; (2) Grades 6-12 Eating Survey; (3) Research Insights: Obesity in Children; and (4) Research Insights: Topics Related to Obesity in Children. This book concludes with References and an Index.