NEW YORK - Bill Clinton is teaming with SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer in a campaign to nudge children to eat healthy foods and to get up off the couch and move.

“The idea that health decisions you make as kids could stop you from living your dream is heartbreaking to us,” said Clinton, who will appear in public service announcements and in a town hall forum. Clinton underwent quadruple coronary bypass surgery in 2004 and a follow-up procedure in March.

Nickelodeon and its affiliates will commit about $30 million worth of air time a year to the campaign.

The town hall forum with Clinton is scheduled to air Nov. 13.

Fifteen percent of U.S. schoolchildren are obese, and 30 percent are believed to be overweight.