The problem of childhood obesity in South Africa has reached epidemic proportions. It is estimated that one in five South African children are either overweight or obese; with twenty percent of children under the age of six being overweight. This is mainly due to a poor diet and a lack of exercise. The aim of this study is to determine the overweight / obesity prevalence amongst grade-one learners at selected schools in the West Rand, Mogale City. The weight and height of each subject was to be physically measured by the researcher and compared to norms for that age category. This study further aims to determine their parents knowledge / perceptions regarding childhood nutrition and physical activity. To this end a questionnaire was constructed so that parental knowledge / beliefs could be assessed. This study has found both overweight and underweight within the same population. The results indicate overweight / obesity in seventeen subjects (3.7%). Eleven girls (4.8%) and six boys (3%) were overweight representing a boy to girl ratio of 1: 1.8 among the overweight group. Among the overweight subjects, girls represented 65% while boys represented 35%. This study has also found underweight / stunting of growth among the eight and nine year old subjects as their weight for height fell below the 25th percentile. Further classification of the study sample according to school-fee structure revealed that all subjects with overweight / obesity were found within low-fee schools, representing 4%. One boy and one girl each were found with obesity among the overweight group having a body mass index (BMI) of 23.8 and 24.8 respectively. Therefore obesity was found in 12% among the overweight group and within low-fee structure schools.