The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is launching a new project aimed at confronting the childhood obesity epidemic. The Childhood Obesity Demonstration Project seeks to build on existing community efforts and work to identify effective healthcare and community strategies to promote children’s healthy eating and active living.

According to CDC officials, the four-year project will zero in to reach low-income and minority families on childhood obesity.

Obesity rates among children and adolescents have nearly tripled over the last three decades. Obese children are more likely to have asthma, diabetes, depression and other illnesses.