APEX, N.C. — Many Wake County students are too heavy for their own good. So school leaders are teaching them about fitness -- one step at a time.

In parts of Wake County Wednesday, a trail of school buses was replaced with a trail of students walking to school as part of National Walk to School Day.

Students, parents and teachers at Baucom Elementary in Apex gathered at a central location early Wednesday for a 1-mile trek to school.

"Right now we have a real big obesity problem among young people," said Rod Paige, U.S. Secretary of Education.

"To be very honest with you, there isn't a school district in the state that's doing enough to combat the obesity problem that we see now," said Artie Kamiya, of Wake County Schools health and physical education.

Schools are trying to battle the obesity problem.

Last month, Wake County was awarded $1.3 million to start a program aimed at obesity prevention.

Junk food is also under attack in North Carolina's schools. State agencies recently put out guidelines for foods in vending machines and suggestions included options like water and milk instead of soda.

"I think as adults we need to show the way," Paige said. "We need to teach by actually doing."