Childhood obesity in our country has now reached epidemic proportions. In fact, by 2010, 20% of U.S. children are expected to be obese, putting them at greater risk of developing and dying from heart disease as adults. For the sake of our children's health it is imperative that we, as a nation, take steps now to reverse this trend before it is too late.
While many factors have contributed to this alarming rise in overweight children, one of the main culprits is a decrease in the physical activity levels of today's youth, and we need the help of schools to address this. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend that children engage in sixty minutes or more of physical activity each day, so kids need to get some of that activity at school. Fit and active kids are not only healthier, but research also indicates that their school performance is improved.
That's why the American Heart Association supports the Fitness Integrated with Teaching (FIT) Kids Act. This federal legislation has been introduced by Representatives Ron Kind (D-WI) and Zach Wamp (R-TN) in the House of Representatives, and by Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and John Ensign (R-NV) in the Senate. The bill amends the No Child Left Behind Act to ensure that kids learn how to be responsible for their health and that they are active during the school day.
But to get this critical piece of legislation passed we must reach out to our legislators and
impress upon them the importance of making our kids health a priority ... and that is
where people like you come in. If you haven't already, please contact Congress today!
Additional Resources:
For more information on The FIT Kids Act, click here.
For more on childhood obesity, click here.