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 Combating
Childhood Obesity
The
American Council for Fitness and Nutrition Stresses Nutrition
Education, Increased Activity as Equally Important Components
of Achieving Healthier Lifestyles
 Carbohydrate-Addicted
Kids: Help Your Child or Teen Break Free of Junk Food and Sugar
Cravings-For Life!
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The American
Council for Fitness and Nutrition (ACFN) today called for
increased federal support for nutrition and physical education
during Senate hearings on the school lunch and breakfast programs.
The Senate Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition and Forestry held the first of a series of hearings
on the reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act which includes
federal school meal programs and the Women, Infants and Children
(WIC) program. Today's hearing addressed the U.S. Department
of Agriculture nutrition guidelines, funding for school lunches
and breakfasts, and the role the meal program can play in improving
childhood nutrition. Panelists discussed funding needs, food
service programs, and the need for adequate nutrition education
in schools in order to reduce obesity.
As hearings on the reauthorization
of the Child Nutrition Act continue, ACFN advocates realistic,
long-term solutions for reducing and preventing overweight and
obesity among America's school children, including a balance
of:
Nutrition education for children, teachers and parents. Nutrition
information should be covered in school curricula, and resources
for parents should be available. - Children need to be educated
about the importance of balancing a healthy diet with daily
physical activity for a healthy lifestyle.
- Physical activity in schools.
Only one state - Illinois - currently has mandatory daily
physical activity for students. ACFN supports physical activity
for at least 30 minutes a day in all schools.
- Applied research on how to
achieve appropriate behavior changes. We must find effective
solutions that people can realistically fit into their everyday
lifestyles.
Decisions about the availability
and selection of food choices in schools should be made by parents,
educators and local communities, and should not be subjected
to a "one-size-fits-all" standard at the national
level. The USDA should continue to set appropriate nutritional
guidelines for school meal programs, with the specifics of food
and beverage options made by the parents and educators in local
communities.
ACFN is a non-profit organization
made up of food, beverage and consumer product companies; trade
associations; and non-profit organizations working together
to improve the health of all Americans, particularly youth,
by encouraging a healthy balance between fitness and nutrition.
How can you avoid your children
becoming overweight. Find out here.
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