On this edition of Teen Connection, a panel of teens and adult experts will discuss the dangers of adolescent obesity and will present guidelines for maintaining healthy, active lifestyles.

The primary causes of teenage obesity are high caloric intake and lack of physical activity. Teenage obesity can lead to Type 2 diabetes, asthma and hypertension and can also lead to psychological problems associated with negative body image.

Obesity among children and adolescents has tripled since 1980 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Brown County Kids Count Initiative is looking to reverse this trend by making teens more aware of their lifestyle choices. At the core of the initiative is a simple guideline, Live54218, which advocates five servings of fruits and vegetables, four bottles of water, less than two hours of media, one hour of exercise and eight hours of sleep daily.

The Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, The Green Bay Press Gazette,University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Boys and Girls Club of Green Bay, and many other local agencies and schools have joined the Brown County Kids Initiative. Students from UW-Green Bay will appear on this episode of Teen Connection to discuss their work mentoring teens on healthy lifestyle choices at the Boys and Girls Club.

Jen Van Den Elzen, chair of Live54218, and several teen members of the Boys and Girls Club also will appear on the program.

Viewers can text in their questions to 920-288-2810. Standard text message rates apply.

Toll-free phone service is provided by Nsight Long Distance.

Host Kathryn Bracho appears courtesy of WBAY-TV/Green Bay.