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KANNAPOLIS, N.C. – A program at the North Carolina Research Campus is getting the conversation started about childhood obesity. The Kannapolis Scholars hosted their first conference which was open to the public online, after 15 months of research.

"The only way to solve childhood obesity is if we all work together," said Kannapolis Scholar Kelly Will.

The Scholars are a team of 14 graduate students from eight universities around the state…each with different areas of study. Will, a second year graduate student at UNC Chapel Hill, is studying developmental psychology. She says the program teaches how different areas of study can collaborate to find a common solution.

"We are no longer facing health issues that can be solved by just one person or one area, you need to bring in everybody," said Will.

"This issue of childhood obesity has many facets and these scholars have many facets to them. So merging those together to create and organize this conference," said Scholar Director Jack Odle.

Childhood obesity remains one of the most prevalent health issues facing America's youth including those in North Carolina.

"We don't rate well," said Odle.

In North Carolina alone, obesity occurs in more than 20 percent of low income children ages two to four. That's a reason why the conference was also open to the public through an online webcast.

“To make sure we are communicating the best we can with parents, children, researchers, the government, everybody who is involved in this issue," said Will.

Scholars say the key for progress is simplicity in awareness. Even something as simple as thinking of a plate as a color wheel.

"How do we on a day to day basis make the decisions that will make it better," said Will.

The Kannapolis Scholars program was funded through a $1 million USDA grant. The childhood obesity conversation focused on children ages three to twelve.