Given the unprecedented global incidence of overweight in children, the issues that potentially create and sustain a circumstance of epidemic childhood overweight, and the efforts that are underway to prevent and remediate childhood overweight need to be examined. The article explores potentially interrelated causes of obesity/overweight in children and their families, and describe efforts underway to remediate environmental correlates through direct intervention, legislation and a shift in public policy. (Contains 2 figures and 1 table.)