Wyoming has the second lowest rate of childhood obesity in the country right behind Utah and ahead of Colorado and Idaho.

Still almost 9 percent of 10- to 17-year-olds in Wyoming are obese, according to a report released in August by Trust for America's Health and The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Crystal English-Forgey, a nutritional program consultant with the Wyoming Department of Education, said she has seen different studies ranking obesity in Wyoming but hadn't seen one ranking Wyoming so low.

English-Forgey, who works with school lunches, said she doesn't see obesity in Wyoming schools very often.

"It's really rare that I see it in the school cafeterias, especially in the elementary schools," English-Forgey said.

Some kids work on ranches, she said, and Wyoming children tend to spend more time outside than in other states.

The education department and school districts have implemented many programs over the past few years to curtail childhood obesity.

"I know my boys have PE five times a week and they go to school in Green River," English-Forgey said.

Even with low numbers, obesity is still a problem the Natrona County School District deals with, said Katrina Lorenzen, student wellness coordinator for the district.

Some schools target obese children and teachers take "them under their wings and say here's some choices you can make."

Tamra Jackson with the education department said some areas of the state need more help then others. Jackson works primarily with day care centers and preschools.

A girl in Fremont County told Jackson she had pop and pie for breakfast.

There are many positive things happening in the state, English-Forgey said. The number of students participating in breakfast and after-school-snack programs is increasing.

Lorenzen said beginning in 2006, schools in Natrona County had to submit two health policies stating what they would do to promote physical activity and nutrition.

Some schools have a 10-minute walk before the bell rings and others list nutrition facts in weekly newsletters that go home to families, she said.

There are also district-wide programs, such as "12 Days of Fitness" near Christmas and the Pumpkin Stroll walk to help students find physical activities they enjoy.

Last year, soda pop and candy were removed from all vending machines in Natrona County schools.

"We want them to make it a habit, a life-long habit, so they don't have problems when they are adults," Lorenzen said.

Jackson said it's important to educate kids about nutrition at a young age.

Preschools and day cares in the state expose children to fruits and vegetables they might not have tried before in hopes children will ask parents for those types of snacks when they go home.

Also, Jackson said the department is trying to encourage families to eat meals together. They are developing a take-home video about the importance of eating as a family.

"It's not in a sense that we are ridiculing parents," Jackson said. "We want to give them the knowledge to help better their children's lives."

Contact health reporter Allison Rupp at (307) 266-0534 or allison.rupp@trib.com.