Obesity rates among children are rising steadily in Utah, and experts say environments and behaviors must be changed to solve the problem.

In 1994, 16.9 percent of Utah children were at an unhealthy weight, Patty Cross, a Utah County Gold Medal Schools coordinator, told the Utah County Board of Health on Monday. By 2006, more than 22 percent of Utah children were obese, and that number could rise to 30 percent in the next 10 years.

While obesity rates have increased over the years, Cross said the trend can be reversed with participation in the statewide Gold Medal Schools program. Through the program, schools can reach five levels of fitness: bronze, silver, gold, platinum and platinum focus.

"This is a strong program," she said. "It's easy and it's effective."

Cross said participation in the program's mile walking program, healthy nutrition, tobacco-free school and wellness activities can help children learn better, but not enough schools are choosing to participate.

There are 278 elementary schools participating in the program throughout the state, including 20 in Utah County, but Cross said that only amounts to about 30 percent of all elementary schools.

Cross urged board members to contact schools with which they are familiar to encourage principals to participate. Board members Chris Sorensen and Doris Baker bring backgrounds in education to the board, and Sorensen said he would meet with principals to find out why they are not using the program. Baker said there is almost a semi-crisis of obesity-related health problems in young children.

"I can't believe the number of children that are enrolled in our school as of late that are severe diabetics at six years old," she said.

Cross said she believes the perception of the Gold Medal Schools program needs to be changed. Some teachers and principals may believe the program is difficult and only adds to their full schedule. However, each school can choose which level they will try to achieve, and resources and funding are available to support the school. Up to $1,500 is available to schools that achieve their fitness goals, and children are more productive when they are physically fit, Cross said.

If each board member encourages schools to participate, Cross said it may help to dispel any concerns about the program. Educators are concerned for their children, and if they understand the program, they may be more willing to get involved.

"All schools want their children to be healthy," she said.

Richard Nance, director of the Utah County Division of Substance Abuse, also spoke to the Board of Health on Monday about the state's methamphetamine campaign.

Nance said the campaign was started after Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. took a tour of the Salt Lake City House of Hope, where his eyes were opened to the drug's problems.

The state campaign was modeled after commercials that aired in Montana to address drug problems, but Nance said local commercials were intended to use an approach more appropriate for Utah. While the Montana commercials were harsh, Utah's are more gentle.

While most drug rehabilitation clients are males, 64 percent of Utah meth users are women, and the state campaign brings awareness to that. Billboards in Utah County showed diaper bags, purses and pacifiers and the campaign brought the users' more-mainstream lifestyle to light. Nance said the billboards' effectiveness were obvious because of the number of complaints they drew.

Nance said much of the campaign was directed to family members of addicts to encourage them to seek help. It is vital for meth users to get help, because treatment can decrease child neglect and abuse cases, and foster care and termination of parental rights also decreases.

Once meth users have completed an outpatient program such as Promise of Women and Families, Nance said sobriety increases to 90 percent and users are able to obtain stable housing, higher income and an improved relationship with family members.