In past years, there has been a great deal of concern throughout North America about the prevalence of certain conditions, which affect teenagers more than any other age group. Eating disorders, drug abuse, stress and peer pressure have all had their moment in the spotlight. In the eighties Bulimia and suicide made their mark. In the nineties, teen violence reached it peak. Now, years later, there is a new villain in the town of adolescence. His name is not Anorexia, Drug Abuse or Peer Pressure. His targets are random, crossing class, race, gender and ethnic barriers. His name is Obesity, and he is victimizing teens at an unprecedented rate.

Health Canada says that obesity is an excess of fatty tissue on a person's body. Some experts believe you are obese if you exceed the "desirable" weight for your height, build, gender and age by more than 20 per cent...