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| Childhood Obesity Solutions on the Table |
| Federal, state initiatives encourage increased physical activity |
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Through all of the turbulence and upheaval of the 1960s and '70s, at least one thing remained stable: weight patterns among children and adolescents. In fact, the percentage of overweight youth in America hovered at only 5% for the first 17 years (1963-80) that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tracked this data.
After 1980, however, those numbers spiked dramatically, as video games and cable television gradually replaced "capture-the-flag" and "hide-and-seek" as primary outlets for the adventurous spirit of youth.
By 1994, one in 10 children were considered overweight'twice the number affected in 1980. Ten years later, the CDC found that an astonishing 17% of children had become overweight.
In light of the CDC's findings, and its portrayal of a generation destined for unprecedented weight-related health problems, lawmakers at both the federal and state levels are proposing legislative solutions for increasing children's physical activity rates.
One of the more exciting legislative solutions, the Strengthening Physical Education Act of 2007 (H.R. 1224), sponsored by industry champion Representative Zach Wamp (R-TN) and Representative Ron Kind (D-WI), would amend the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) to include content and performance standards for physical education.
Notably, the bill includes two findings that emphasize the importance of the legislation: 1) Obesity-related diseases cost the United States economy more than $100 billion annually; and 2) Almost half of young people ages 12-21, and more than one-third of high school students, do not participate in vigorous physical activity on a regular basis. The bill also requests $400 million to fund the initiative during fiscal years 2009-2013.
"As the health and economic costs associated with childhood obesity increase," explains Wamp, "it is important that physical education remain a strong emphasis in schools to help strengthen academic performance and provide students with the physical activity and education to lead healthy lifestyles.
"The statistics on childhood obesity are staggering, and we need to get them going in the other direction," he adds. "This bill is a way to get to the root of this fast-growing problem."
The bill, which is currently in line for discussion in both the Committee on Education and Labor and the Committee on Energy and Commerce, also enjoys the public, and active, support of fitness legend Richard Simmons. At the press conference introducing the bill, Simmons offered a passionate, personal plea for congressional support. "There remains only a ghost of physical education walking the halls of many schools in the United States today," he explained. "This must change, and sooner rather than later. I don't want an entire generation growing up like me, hating to be active, and unaware of the incredible benefits of good nutrition and physical fitness."
Simmons' Website, www.richardsimmons.com, includes a sample letter to Congress in support of the bill, and provides a link for congressional contact information.
Supporters of the bill are aware that the current political climate may limit the bill's chance for passage, yet they remain determined to press their case.
At the state level, youth fitness advocates have reason to cheer for Illinois House Bill 3584, which would create a tax credit for expenses related to enrolling a child in a "qualified physical-fitness program." The bill defines a "qualified physical-fitness program" as a program that continues for at least eight consecutive weeks with at least one session per week and, for children 10 years of age or under, consists of physical-fitness activities that last for at least 30 minutes. Programs for children older than 10 must include physical-fitness activities that last for at least 60 minutes.
The bill defines "physical-fitness activity" as an activity in which all of the activities undertaken contribute to cardio-respiratory endurance, plus one or more of: muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, or balance.
The bill was introduced by State Representative Elizabeth Coulson (R-IL), who is also a licensed physical therapist and a staunch supporter of wellness legislation.
"Obesity, particularly in children, is a public health issue we need to address," explains Coulson. "This legislation would encourage parents to seek physically active outlets for their children.
"Encouraging children to exercise is critical," she adds, "because physically active children are more likely to become physically active adults."
For more information on either of these bills, please contact gr@ihrsa.org.
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