More than 1 in 3 Georgia children ages 10 to 17 are classified as overweight or obese. That’s according to a 2009 study by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation .

Obese and overweight children have a higher risk of Type-2 diabetes or heart disease later in life.

It’s a complex problem, involving balancing better diet and physical activity. GPB takes a closer look at the epidemic in a special series.

First, the prospective of Georgia school officials. How are they attacking the problem?

More than a decade as a nutrition director on the local level, Nancy Rice now heads Nutrition for the state’s Department of Education. And Therese McGuire is program specialist for physical education and health in Georgia schools.

They spoke to GPB's Edgar Treiguts.

Tags: Georgia, education, childhood obesity, Edgar Treiguts, GPB, special series, obesity epidemic