CLEVELAND -- Getting fit and healthy can seem like an insurmountable task for an overweight child. But new research shows just a little bit of effort can make a huge difference, reported NewsChannel5's Tonya Strong.

Katie Meyer, 14, discovered that she could feel a lot better about herself when she lost weight.

"When I was in third grade, I was overweight. And people used to make fun of me and I didn't like the way I looked,” said Meyer.

But then she discovered a passion for basketball. And something else happened too.

"I lost a lot of weight," said Meyer.

How can kids struggling to overcome obesity lose weight? New research offers a surprising answer.

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego studied 850 adolescents. Those who exercised vigorously an average of just four to 12 minutes a day were less likely to be overweight.

Even a little bit of exercise, said experts, jumpstarts the metabolism into burning fat.

"It's overwhelming to think about such a big change. And that's why you have to, you got to pare it down and make it achievable and start with small successes and let them build on each other,” said Beth Passehl, a children’s health coordinator.

For Katie, basketball was a start. She's now active in lots of other sports, and she has improved her diet.

The change has made her feel and look much better.

"I'd go back to my old neighborhood and people would say, 'Whoa, is that Katie?' And I'd be like, 'Yeah!' It was really flattering. It made me really happy," said Katie.

For kids who aren't active at all, it’s important to start small -- don't schedule an hour of a lot of exercise a day. And a balanced and healthy diet is, of course, another big part of losing weight.