CATLETTSBURG, Ky. (WSAZ) -- The Centers for Disease Control say the number of children in this country considered obese has tripled since 1980.

School Officials at Catlettsburg Elementary in Kentucky are trying to make a dent in child obesity one step at a time.

Most parents or teachers would show sense of frustration if their bright kid was just traveling around in circles with no direction, but not here.

This is the 4th grade routine at Catlettsburg Elementary, for a half hour each morning before classes start students walk in circles around the gym.

Kaydin Legg will tell you it helps give him a leg up in the morning, "whenever we walk it gets us energized and gets us more fit. It's keeping us healthy by getting our blood flowing and keeping us able to breathe well.

Each student is given a pedometer tracking their steps for progress and prizes.

"I think it's just a real benefit to these students to come walk every morning,” said Terry Spurlock of Body County Schools.

This is a push to tackle Kentucky's childhood obesity problem.

According to the state's health department Kentucky ranks in the top three for childhood obesity.

"We've also had teachers tell us in the classroom this seems to help children, when they come back in their ready to learn, it helps behavior, those types of things," Spurlock said.

The program also helps kids on the inside.

Today, Judy Conley's the invited adult role model to come in and mentor these children with signs of encouragement.

"It's good to have your family support you but it's also good to have an outside person or persons to help you that you can talk to that think they can't talk to their parents or grandparents they confide in another person that won't judge them," Conley said.

"If we instill that while they're young that'll carry on, it's a life long learning experience," Spurlock said.

The CDC shows overweight adolescents have a 70 percent chance of becoming overweight or obese adults.

This increases to 80 percent if one or more parent is overweight or obese.