The issue of childhood obesity has become a strong talking point for many in recent years, with organizations set up to help introduce school-age children to better exercise and eating habits. With technology moving as quickly as it has in the past decade, kids need guidance more than ever on how to put down the MP3 players, tablets, laptops, and smartphones and get active.

When obesity sets in at an early age, it’s especially important to change certain habits in order to keep lifelong issues from developing, such as diabetes. At 189 pounds, 9-year old Breanna Bond was bullied at school and facing health problems when her mother stepped in and changed the entire family’s day-to-day activities, as well as their diet.

“Everybody at school would call me names,” Breanna said of her bullies. “They would call me fatty, they would call me fat head.”

That soon changed, however, with daily walks and the introduction of a treadmill into the family’s routine. Breanna also changed her caloric intake and watched the amount of fat she was consuming, resulting in a 66-pound weight loss. It has truly become a lifestyle change, and led to Breanna joining school sports rather than being left out because of her size.

“She is an inspiration to the world and all children who are having weight issues across America, that you can do it with a pair of tennis shoes and motivation,” her mother, Heidi, said. “It’s totally changed the course of her whole life.”

Image: ABC News