One of today's most pressing public health problems is the rise in childhood overweight and obesity. School-based health centers (SBHCs)--the convergence of public health, primary care, and mental health in schools--represent an important element in the public health toolbox for combating the challenging epidemic. When working side-by-side in a school setting, medical and mental health professionals have a unique window into their patients' world and unparalleled opportunities for addressing common and emerging health problems from a population-based approach. Childhood is a critical period for the development of healthy behaviors and habits that frequently continue to adulthood. In fact, obese children between the ages of 10 to 13 year old are 80 percent more likely to become obese adults. Addressing health and nutrition during childhood and adolescence is therefore critical to tackling obesity. Through the help of SBHCs, schools--where children spend a large majority of their time--present a great opportunity to instill life-long healthy behaviors in children and adolescents. (Contains 3 endnotes.)