Wrong. Try again.

The No. 1 subject parents least want to talk to their kids about

is ... the federal deficit? Texting while showering? Wait! It must be drugs and alcohol.

Wrong again.

The No. 1 taboo subject for parents is their kids' weight. About 5 percent of parents in a recent WebMD/Sanford survey think it's tough to talk about drugs and alcohol. About 10 percent get very squirmy when it comes to discussing sex. But a whopping 25 percent are hesitant to talk to kids about how much they weigh. In fact, many parents of 8- to 17-year-olds confess they avoid the weight conversation altogether.

Meanwhile, our children are exploding. A third of U.S. kids are overweight, and 17 percent are already obese. That translates to millions of kids showing signs of early heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and a slew of other medical issues that take our current health care crisis and blow it up into a national catastrophe.

"These statistics are not surprising, but they are tragic," says Sarah Stone, co-creator of the MindStream Academy, where teens and tweens go to learn about being healthy, fit and self-confident. Parents who are afraid, reluctant or insecure about having that weight talk with their kids are making a big mistake, she says. It's time to stop stalling and start a dialogue, no matter how difficult it is to get the ball rolling.

"Parents inevitably bring their own feelings about weight to the table, which can prevent meaningful discussion," Stone says. "Often they too feel helpless and not in a position to give advice."

Which is why so many parents leave it to their doctors to bring up the subject. Fat chance. Teachers? School counselors? Priests and rabbis? Those conversations just don't happen. Stone's bottom line is this: "Parents control the health environment and establish the wellness culture in the

family. ... Avoiding the subject is a terrible abrogation of parental responsibility."

I'll say. Which is why I'm sharing some of Stone's tips about what works and what doesn't when it comes to getting kids to live a healthier lifestyle:

PUT THE FOCUS ON HEALTH, NOT WEIGHT. What kind of food is served in the house? Do you emphasize physical activity? Is everyone getting enough sleep? Parents need to establish a wellness culture in the house, Stone says, so the dialogue is more about healthy lifestyle behaviors and less about weight loss and diets.

ASK YOUR CHILD WHAT WOULD HELP. This is crucial. Though the parent is the authority figure, it's not helpful to assume you know the best way to help your child become healthier. Get your child involved in coming up with the best course of action. Practice deep listening. Ask open-ended, not yes-no, questions. Don't give answers — listen for them.