Last week, I shared a cab with a guy who works for a large foundation. He told me that they are very involved in the First Lady’s initiative to combat childhood obesity. We both agreed how sad it is that we need major public education campaigns to encourage children to get outside and play.

I commented that, in just one generation, we have changed the nature of American childhood and, as a result, children are suffering the health consequences. I suggested that one of the biggest problems is that we have scared parents into never letting their children out of their sight. Children today are not encouraged to “get out and play.” They are required to stay in and be watched. And that, I said, may be beyond repair.

Sensational media reports have convinced parents that it is too dangerous to let their children get out of view. But, in any given year, there are only about 100 stranger abductions of children in the U.S. Of course, it’s horrible. But it’s not the “kidnapper around every corner” that the media often presents.

As we continued to talk on our way to the airport, I suggested that one of the best things we can do to combat childhood obesity is to launch a campaign telling parents that they can let their children go out and play.

Or maybe it’s to permanently cancel “Dateline NBC: To Catch a Predator” and every show like it.