NEW YORK (CBS)  -- COUCH POTATO KIDS AND EXERCISE.

It's been too long since we had a study telling us what couch potatoes our children have become.

The latest study showing that if Hansel and Gretel had been set in America, there'd be no story --- because Hansel would already be plenty plump for the Evil Witch.

The latest study in today's Journal of the American Medical Association tracked about 1,000 U.S. kids and teens from 2000 until 2006 --- and found that while 90 percent of 9-year-olds get a couple of hours of exercise most days, by age 15 that drops to 3%.

And a fewer than a third of teenagers got even the minimum of one hour.

The researchers tracked the kids using an accelerometer to record movement, although it wasn't perfect --- they couldn't wear the gadget while swimming or during contact sports --- so maybe they were sneaking in some exercise that didn't get recorded. But one look at a school corridor between classes will tell you: Naw, it was probably one bored accelerometer.

"It's probably due to the environment that's not supporting activity," Dr. Philip Nader said.

Dr. Philip Nader is a pediatrician at UC-San Diego, and you know what he's going to say: flabby kids who don't play outside grow up to be flabby adults who suffer from heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes.

"I was surprised by the sharpness of the decline, and how the amount of activity just kept getting smaller and smaller," Dr. Nader said.

It is so bad that just last week a pediatricians' organization recommended that some kids as young as eight actually get cholesterol-lowering drugs:

"Kids, just like adults, are getting less and less active as they get older," said Dr. Nader.

And you can guess what's to blame: no gym, and a computer in every bedroom that stays tuned to MySpace.

And now, given that we've had a bazillion research studies all saying the same thing, and no one listening --- maybe the researchers should just give it up and go out and play, before they get fat, too.

OBAMA AND MCCAIN SHARPEN DIFFERENCES ON IRAQ.

I get the feeling that there's a new war underway...

"I will send at least two additional combat brigades to Afghanistan," said Sen. Barack Obama, Democrat of Illinois and presumptive Democratic presidental nominee.

"Our commanders on the ground in Afghanistan say they need at least three additional brigades," said Sen. John McCain, Republican of Arizona and presumptive Republican presidential nominee.

I do believe we have a bidding war going on.

Barack Obama's latest audition for the role of Commander-in-Chief was a formal foreign policy speech in which he called the war a "distraction."

"This war distracts us from every threat that we face," Obama said.

He promised a responsible deployment.

"...That pushes Iraq's leaders towards a political solution, rebuilds our military, and refocuses on Afghanistan and our broader security threats," Obama said.

Afghanistan --- that's where al-Qaida is, and that's where the troops should go.

"This is a war we have to win. I will send at least two additional combat brigades to Afghanistan --- and use this commitment to seek greater contributions, with fewer restrictions, from our NATO allies," Obama said.

But across the country at a town hall meeting in New Mexico, John McCain was ready. Obama would send two brigades? John McCain would do better than that: he would send three.

"Our commanders on the ground in Afghanistan say they need three additional brigades. Thanks to the success of the surge, these brigades are becoming available," McCain said.

And speaking of the surge in Iraq --- the surge Barack Obama said would fail, the surge John McCain gambled his campaign on --- McCain proclaimed "Mission Accomplished."

"Today, we know he was wrong. The surge has succeeded," McCain said.

And where Obama said that the war in Afghanistan is a war we have to win, McCain said it was a war he knows how to win.

And where Barack Obama said he'd take out high-level terrorist targets like Osama bin Laden if we have them in our sights, McCain bid even higher.

"You can complete confidence that I will get Osama bin Laden and bring him to justice," McCain said.

And there's still 110 days left in the bidding...

TIME FOR "HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN"?

"The economy continues to face numerous difficulties --- including ongoing strains in financial markets, declining house prices, a softening labor market, and rising prices of oil, food and some other commodities," said Ben Bernanke, Federal Reserve Chairman.

I guess we know who had an extra shot of grumpy in his morning coffee.

You know, the Fed chairman may know his stuff, but this not what we need to hear now.

In times like these, when there's really nothing you personally can do except not open your quarterly statement, you don't need this:

"Sales of new homes continue to fall," Bernanke said.

No, what you need is an optimist.

"I'm an optimist," said President George W. Bush.

Says President Bush:

"The economy's growing, productivity's high, trade's up."

"People are working. It's not as good as we'd like. And to the extent we find weakness, we'll move. That's one thing about this administration: we're not afraid of making tough decisions."

"I understand there's a lot of nervousness."

"You don't have to worry about it, if you've got less than 100,000 dollars in the bank."

"Your deposits are insured by the Federal Government up to 100,000 dollars."

"...will take a deep breath..."

"Your deposits are good."

"You don't have to worry about it."

"We got you insured."

"Take a deep breath."

DISCLAIMER: Due to the differences between radio broadcasts and print, we are unable to fully deliver the experience of this segment of Dave Ross' commentary.
 

SWINGING OIL PRICES AND ECONOMIC FEARS.

Something strange has happened: oil traders no longer seem certain that the price is going up to $200 a barrel.

Could it be that instead of a permanent lifestyle change, this has all been just a bizarre nightmare? Are we all about to wake up back in our old familiar bed back in Kansas?

It was the biggest drop in the price of oil in 17 years: the top grade of crude oil fell 4.4%, to below 140 dollars.

"I always compare it to 'Chutes and Ladders.' Well, there was one big chute, just under 140. And when the trading community perceives that 140 isn't safe, boom --- it dropped to 135.92," said Tom Kloza, Oil Price Information Service, explaining how oil prices are controlled by four-year-olds playing a board game.

Now, seeing oil take a fall like that feels pretty good --- but while the price drop is good news, what made it happen was the bad news.

"The economy in the U.S. certainly feeling the effect of high oil prices. Gasoline demand has been absolutely terrible lately," said Jim Burkhard, energy analyst.

"There's been plenty of bearish signs in the market that 147-dollar crude is not warranted, at least right now," Burkhard said.

There's the silver lining we've all been looking for: the precipitous drop in your retirement fund doesn't just scare you, it also scares the oil traders who realize that people who get to feeling poor will eventually find ways to do without gas --- maybe permanently.

The question is, can our energy experts Jim and Tom tell us how far it will go? Should you put off buying your next tank in hopes we'll be back to $3.50 gas by week's end?

"It is just beyond defining. You scramble for a reason to justify a seven-percent move, and you can't really come up with it," Kloza said.

Come on, give us something we can work with here.

"I wouldn't be surprised if by Friday of this week, we might be higher than these numbers --- and I wouldn't be surprised if we're ten percent lower," Kloza said.

That helps...