Obesity Prevention

American Heart Association CEO Nancy Brown released the following statement today on the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) report, Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School, and the re-introduction of the FIT Kids Act in Congress:

“This new IOM report reminds us once again that the nation’s schools are on the frontline of the fight against childhood obesity. We fully support the IOM’s recommendation to create a whole-of-school approach that encourages students to receive 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily. The American Heart Association welcomes the IOM’s reinforcement of our longstanding recommendation and efforts to work with school districts to offer quality physical education courses during which students spend a significant amount of time participating in moderate to vigorous physical activity. 

From their first day of school, our children are instructed that proficiency in math and reading literacy will put them on the path to becoming successful adults. But too often they are not educated in the skills that will help them lead a healthy and happy life free of cardiovascular diseases, stroke and other chronic illnesses. As the IOM report advocates, schools must create environments that promote the lifetime benefits of physical activity and help students incorporate it into their daily routine.

Our organization remains committed to raising the public’s awareness about the powerful link between childhood obesity and cardiovascular disease. One solution we strongly support is the Fit Kids Act, which was re-introduced today by Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), in the Senate and by Rep. Ron Kind (D-Wis.), and Rep. Aaron Schock (R-Ill.), in the House of Representatives. This legislation would strengthen physical education programs throughout the country by providing grants to schools across the country to implement physical education programs. The bill would also require educational agencies to monitor and report on the amount of time students spend engaging in physical activity and education compared to national standards endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  The new IOM report makes a similar recommendation.

We are also pleased that Representatives Kind and Schock have introduced legislation today that would require regular updating of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. This legislation, which was introduced in the Senate in March by Senator Harkin and Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) in March, would ensure that these critical guidelines are regularly updated and are based on the latest and best scientific evidence.”

Last Wednesday, Health Education was in the spotlight at a legislative breakfast co-hosted by the American Heart Association and the Buckeye Healthy Schools Alliance.  The day started with informal conversations regarding the need for state adopted health education standards.  Following a heart healthy breakfast, legislators and staff were given the opportunity to have their questions answered by a group of experts on the topic.  Special thanks to Mary Chace, Judy Jagger-Mescher, Joe Dake and Heather Vilvens!

Currently, Representatives Vernon Sykes and Lynn Wachtmann are seeking other legislators to join them as co-sponsors.  Each also spoke at the event and discussed their support.  They also urged their colleagues to support the pending legislation.

Want to know more about Health Education standards?  Click through to learn more or Find Us on Facebook for regular updates.  To support our request for co-sponsors, visit the Action Center and send your message today.

Anthony Campagna Ohio

I am a proud supporter of AHA and with good reason. When I graduated from high school in 2000, I was almost 300 lbs. I was unhealthy, unhappy, and antisocial. I blamed myself for my condition; every diet I tried failed and I took it personally.

I started college in August 2000 and that first year of college changed my life. I took a health class that was graphic to say the least. We were taught about heart disease, some of its causes, and shown nasty pictures of what a poor diet can do to your heart. The second part of that class taught us nutrition. I learned I could eat good stuff and still lose weight. After this, my life was never the same. I started an exercise class, renovated my diet, and the pounds just went from there.

I am happy to say that I was down to 150 lbs in 2005 and am now 175 lbs. after some weight training. I attribute this weight loss to education. AHA provides education and resources to people; that is absolutely vital. I have happily participated in the local Heartwalk and donated money to AHA for almost 11 years now. Education helped add years to my life and that is what AHA is doing for people everyday.

As a You’re the Cure advocate who values living in a healthier community, you'll be glad to hear that Delaware's investment in biking and walking trails and pedestrian improvements over the last couple of years is paying off! 

According to a recent USA Today article, Delaware has jumped from 10th to 5th place in most bike-friendly states by the League of American Bicyclists. This investment not only makes Delaware more appealing to businesses and individuals, but improves the overall heart health of our state. Studies show that for every $1 invested in walking and biking trails, we see a $3 reduction in direct medical expenditures for cardiovascular disease in just the first year. That's important for the fiscal and physical health of Delaware. 

To learn more about our efforts in Delaware and to show your legislators that this health issues is important to you, please visit our Take Action center to send your supportive message today and encourage others to send a message through Facebook.

Check it out! A recent study by the Dept. of Public Health found that nearly:

• One of every six Connecticut children in K-3^rd grade is overweight
• One in seven Connecticut kindergarteners is overweight
• More than one in six third graders is obese

These staggering rates not only have life-long implications for children’s health but will significantly impact their performance in the classroom.   Public policy is key to creating healthy kids for a healthy Connecticut.  The American Heart Association is working with partners to support a bill establishing a Childhood Obesity Taskforce in Connecticut to study the effects of obesity on children's health.  While there is a long way to go and many other priority policy initiatives, this is a sensible first step to addressing the epidemic in CT.

The task force will:

• Maintain current information on childhood obesity
• Examine nutrition standards for all foods procured by the state
• Study the value of recess before lunch in K-12 grade
• Advise the governor and General Assembly on how to coordinate and administer state programs to reduce the incidence of childhood obesity.

What do you think are some of the solutions to the Childhood Obesity crisis in CT?

Rachel wanted me to make sure you saw this article on keeping our kids active.

Today is the first day of Screen-Free Week, an annual effort to get kids unleashed from the grip of electronic devices - if only for a few days.

According to Dr. Susan Linn, director of Campaign for Commercial Free Childhood, the idea is to get kids away from video games, smartphones, tablets and TVs and get them to read, explore nature and spend time with friends and family.

"It's not even that screens are necessarily 'bad guys' - except for babies - but it's just that there's too much of them in our lives and way too much of them in children's lives and it's important to take a break," she declared.  Read the rest of the story here.

Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index recently released a new report outlining obesity rates on state by state bases. Colorado residents were the least likely in the nation to be obese in 2012 -- as has been the case since 2010 -- making it the only state where less than 20% of adults are obese. West Virginia - also for a third year in a row -- is the state with the highest obesity rate, at 33.5%; however, this is down from 35.3% in 2012. To learn where your state ranks, visit Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index website.

Spring is a great time to start thinking about getting healthy. This time of year there will be an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables to grocery stores, farmers’ markets will start and with the weather starting to improve getting outside for physical activity will be possible. To show your legislators that obesity and other health issue are important to you, please visit our Take Action center to send your supportive message today or encourage others to send a message through Facebook.

Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index recently released a new report outlining obesity rates on state by state bases. Colorado residents were the least likely in the nation to be obese in 2012 -- as has been the case since 2010 -- making it the only state where less than 20% of adults are obese. West Virginia - also for a third year in a row -- is the state with the highest obesity rate, at 33.5%; however, this is down from 35.3% in 2012. To learn where your state ranks, visit Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index website.

Spring is a great time to start thinking about getting healthy. This time of year there will be an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables to grocery stores, farmers’ markets will start and with the weather starting to improve getting outside for physical activity will be possible. To show your legislators that obesity and other health issue are important to you, please visit our Take Action center to send your supportive message today or encourage others to send a message through Facebook.

Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index recently released a new report outlining obesity rates on state by state bases. Colorado residents were the least likely in the nation to be obese in 2012 -- as has been the case since 2010 -- making it the only state where less than 20% of adults are obese. West Virginia - also for a third year in a row -- is the state with the highest obesity rate, at 33.5%; however, this is down from 35.3% in 2012. To learn where your state ranks, visit Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index website.

Spring is a great time to start thinking about getting healthy. This time of year there will be an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables to grocery stores, farmers’ markets will start and with the weather starting to improve getting outside for physical activity will be possible. To show your legislators that obesity and other health issue are important to you, please visit our Take Action center to send your supportive message today or encourage others to send a message through Facebook.

Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index recently released a new report outlining obesity rates on state by state bases. Colorado residents were the least likely in the nation to be obese in 2012 -- as has been the case since 2010 -- making it the only state where less than 20% of adults are obese. West Virginia - also for a third year in a row -- is the state with the highest obesity rate, at 33.5%; however, this is down from 35.3% in 2012. To learn where your state ranks, visit Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index website.

Spring is a great time to start thinking about getting healthy. This time of year there will be an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables to grocery stores, farmers’ markets will start and with the weather starting to improve getting outside for physical activity will be possible. To show your legislators that obesity and other health issue are important to you, please visit our Take Action center to send your supportive message today or encourage others to send a message through Facebook.