Who's Responsible for Kids' Weight Issues?

Rancho Palos Verdes Patch invites you and your circle of friends to help build a community of support for mothers and their families right here in Rancho Palos Verdes.

Each week in Moms Talk, our Moms Council of experts and smart moms take your questions, give advice and share solutions.

So grab a cup of coffee and settle in as we start the conversation today with this question:

First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move!" campaign to solve the problem of childhood obesity celebrated its one-year anniversary last week. Nearly 500 communities across America have signed up for "Let’s Move Cities and Towns" to focus on making significant changes to community health.

Schools re-shape cafeteria lunches to get a handle on childhood obesity and kids — girls and boys — learn about the dangers of eating disorders in health class.

Despite measures in school, at home, and on a national scale, childhood obesity and eating disorders impact kids across the country. So who's at fault here?

Is it a parent's fault for not stocking up on healthy foods at home or encouraging their children's self-esteem? Can parents really control what their kids eat (or don't eat)? How powerless are parents in preventing any type of eating disorder? Should parents stop kids from going for that extra piece of pizza?

We give you the chance to weigh in (answer in the comments box below):

How responsible are parents for ensuring their children remain at healthy weights? Is it the parent's fault if their children are overweight/too thin?