Parents Are Key in Helping Obese Kids Lose Weight, AHA Says The key to combating juvenile obesity lies with parents, the American Heart Association says. Amid concerns about school nutrition, junk food in school vending machines and other external sources of obesity, the AHA says parents are the primary gatekeeper for weight loss and kids. The AHA released a scientific statement in its most recent issue of "Circulation" journal. Here are tips for parents to curb weight problems in kids, based on that report. Read on...