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American Heart Association Joins Efforts to Introduce Healthy Choices for Healthy Children Legislation
November 17, 2009The American Heart Association is joining efforts to decrease and prevent childhood obesity through legislation that is being introduced today in the Ohio Senate and Ohio House of Representatives. The Healthy Choices for Healthy Children legislation is co-sponsored by Senator Kevin Coughlin (R-Cuyahoga Falls) and Senator Eric Kearney (D-Cincinnati) in the Ohio Senate. Representatives John Patrick Carney (D-Columbus) and Lynn Wachtmann (R-Napoleon) are co-sponsoring the bill in the Ohio House. As a national health leader, the American Heart Association has been working to eliminate childhood obesity and to inspire young people to develop lifelong healthy habits. In May 2005, the American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation joined to form the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. The goal of the alliance is to stop the nationwide increase in childhood obesity and to take bold, innovative steps to help all children live longer and healthier lives. Childhood obesity is one of our nation's leading health threats. Today, about 12 million kids are overweight, and 12 million more are at risk of becoming overweight. The obesity epidemic is clearly taking its toll, as more and more kids are developing conditions and diseases typically associated with adults. Full release.