Paula Summit (Summit5)
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Username: Summit5
Post Number: 151
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 17, 2007 - 8:43 pm: |       |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 17, 2007
Contact: Jennifer Mullin / Semonti Mustaphi
202-224-3254
HARKIN COMBATS CHILDHOOD OBESITY WITH BILL TO PROMOTE PHYSICAL EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS
Obesity rates have doubled in kids 2-5 years and 12-19 years; rates have tripled in kids 6-11 years
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Continuing his efforts to lower the rising rates of childhood obesity, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today introduced legislation encouraging schools to provide kids with quality physical education that can help them lead healthier lives. The Fitness Integrated with Teaching Kids Act (FIT Kids Act) would amend the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) to support physical education for all public school children through grade 12 and ensure they receive important health and nutritional information. Harkin is a senior member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee which is tasked with overseeing NCLB.
Since the 1970s, the percentage rate of obesity has more than doubled for preschool children aged 2-5 years and adolescents aged 12-19 years, and has more than tripled for children aged 6-11 years. Researchers have found that physical inactivity is a contributing factor to the development of childhood obesity.
"As Congress prepares to reauthorize the No Child Left Behind Act, our goal is to support a challenging and diverse education system for all kids that includes rigorous physical education. We must take action to combat rising rates of childhood obesity and diabetes, a public health crisis that we cannot ignore," Harkin said. "As every parent knows, engaging children in physical activity throughout the day improves fitness, burns off excess energy and boosts concentration in the classroom. I hope this bill will empower our schools and parents to help improve our kids' health."
"Quality physical education will not only give our kids the tools to lead healthy lives, but it will motivate them to learn and boost academic performance, said Daniel W. Jones, M.D., American Heart Association President. "That's why we're pleased Senator Harkin has introduced FIT Kids Act to amend No Child Left Behind in efforts to improve physical education in our schools. With an increasing number of children at risk for cardiovascular diseases as a result of our nation's childhood obesity epidemic, we must teach them the ABC's of health, physical activity and good nutrition."
Many governmental, scientific, and public health agencies recommend that school-age children and adolescents engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day of the week, or 420 minutes per week. The national standard for physical education frequency is 150 minutes per week in elementary school and 225 minutes per week in middle and high school.
Despite these recommendations, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in 2000 that fewer than ten percent of elementary, junior high and high schools offer daily PE or its equivalent for the entire school year for all students. In addition, a 2002 survey reported that more than 60 percent of children do not participate in any organized physical activity outside of school hours.
"These grim statistics clearly show that we need to do more to promote physical education in our schools," Harkin said. "Today's children are the first generation in danger of having a shorter life expectancy than their parents. The FIT Kids Act can turn this dangerous trend around and help our kids have a healthy, active childhood that leads to a healthy, active adulthood."
Evidence suggests that physical activity may have a positive impact on academic performance, self-identify, and helps to combat symptoms of anxiety and depression. More than 80 percent of adults believe daily physical activity should be mandatory in schools.
To date, 19 organizations nationwide have endorsed the FIT Kids Act, including the American Heart Association, Parent Teachers Association, National School Counselors Association, and the YMCA of the USA.
Specifically, the FIT Kids Act does the following:
* Requires all schools, school districts and state education agencies to report on quantity and quality of the physical education courses provided as part of the report card process.
* Promotes physical activity in after school programs, amends the school counseling program to take into account the student's emotional and physical wellbeing, and supports efforts to train parents in healthy behavior and physical activity for their kids.
* Supports professional development for health and physical education teachers to boost students' ability to learn, and helps promote healthy lifestyles and physical activity.
* Authorizes a study by the Institute of Medicine to examine ways physical activity can be incorporated into all aspects of the school day, the impact physical activity has on students' ability to learn, and ways to measure student progress in improving physical activity.
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