Let's see ... the rate of childhood obesity is skyrocketing, more than 20 percent of American adults are obese and kids watch thousands of television ads a year that push junk food, soda, fast food and nutritionally empty cereal. Kids are glued not only to the tube but to the X-box, Play Station and Wii. And (finally) a study by Kaiser Family Foundation has linked obesity to watching food ads.

The television industry and food giants don't give a flying Fruit Loop about your child. They are in business to make money. We wring our hands and blame the food industry and television for turning our children into talking Cheez Puffs. Whatever will we do?

Here's an idea: Turn off the TV!

I know, I have uttered the unthinkable.

But I'm here to tell you: You can turn off the TV ... and your kids will live.

I know because I have four kids (ages 10, 9, 6 and 3) and no cable. We do have a TV (although if was entirely up to me, we wouldn't). We don't have an X-Box or any other electronic game besides a couple of computer games. (I know, this is akin to child abuse. I get stares of incredulity when I mention this to people.)

My kids aren't geeks. They're not socially backwards. They're also not unhealthy. They watch PBS after school (although they do love "American Idol").

Then they play -- hockey, soccer, catch, tag. They build forts and lemonade stands. Inside, they knock around a nerf ball, play mini-sticks hockey, read, put on puppet shows, help me cook, write stories, do chores, paint pictures, listen to the Pirates on the radio and help me do volunteer work. We walk together. Sometimes, they're bored. We used to have cable. I spent one horrible summer begging, pleading and ordering them outside, away from the mind-numbing cartoons in which the characters disrespected each other and adults. They were glued to sitcoms touted as pre-teen shows, in which 10-year-olds acted like 16-year-olds but the commercials pushed products at 6- to 8-year-olds. During the endless barrage of toy and junk food commercials, I heard a litany of "Can I have that for my birthday? Can I have that to eat? Can you buy me that?"

When the TV wasn't on, they were like limp dolls. They were crabby, headachy and they fought. Also, the cable bill had been creeping up. When my husband and I were married, it was $25 a month. Eight years later, it was up to $43. So about three years ago, I canceled cable. We told the kids it was broken. They have lived. And lived well.

The oldest three are in elementary school and are getting good grades. They are fit and trim. They love sports, love to read, love to create. Recently, someone bet me that if given a choice my kids would pick cable TV over playing baseball or soccer. So I asked them. One son said he would give up one baseball game in order to see the Penguins play on KBL, but that was it. My daughter said I was insane. And my youngest son cried because he thought I was saying he couldn't play sports anymore.

Do they eat junk food? Sometimes. (They love ice cream.) Do they eat fast food? Sometime. They love Cheerios, oatmeal, all fruits and most vegetables.

I'm far from being a perfect parent. Do they eat junk if it's offered? Yes. I rail against fast food but occasionally take them for McDonald's pancakes. I'm a vegetarian but my son lives for the hot dogs at baseball games. I bake a lot. But I also have no doubt that keeping TV at bay is helping to keep my kids healthy.

TV encourages unhealthy habits and contributes to America's obesity epidemic. The TV industry has no interest in changing its advertising policies unless it is forced to.

Make it easy on them. Instead of battling the advertisers, cut the problem off at its source. Cancel cable. Turn off the TV. Your kids will entertain themselves. They might even spend more time with you.

You're the parent -- say no to excessive junk food and limit their TV time. You will be surprised at how creative -- and healthy -- they can be.