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Healthy Kids Brighter Futures
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Association for Health Education rallies with over 70 national organizations to lead a community response to childhood obesity, during the 2010 National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. The theme for the month is Healthy Kids, Brighter Futures.
The Healthy Kids, Brighter Futures initiative educates and empowers families and youth to live healthy lifestyles, eat nutritious food, and be physically active. American Association for Health Education believes that coalescing childhood obesity efforts during September will help sustain year long momentum.
Childhood obesity is a public health crisis," Congresswoman Kay Granger said. "Children need information and guidance to make informed decisions about food and exercise. Childhood Obesity Awareness Month supports the goals of families, schools, and communities who are working to ensure we raise a healthier generation. If we keep our kids healthy now it will alleviate a major burden on our health care system while giving millions of young people the opportunity to live longer, healthier lives."
United States Representatives Marcia L. Fudge (D-OH) and Kay Granger (R-TX) introduced the Congressional measure establishing the month, which passed the House in May. The Senate version was introduced by the United States Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and George Voinovich (R-OH). It passed the Senate in April. These Congressmen were propelled to action by the startling state of child wellness in America.
Childhood obesity is a growing epidemic in America. An estimated 23 million children and teenagers ages 2 to 19 are obese or overweight. That rate has tripled in the past 30 years. For the first time in history, children may have shorter expectancies than their parents'.
The public and private sector, communities, and public servants, including First Lady Michelle Obama, are championing a range of efforts to improve child wellness in America. The American Association for Health Education invites you to join them in empowering Healthier Kids for a Brighter Future. For additional information on how you can help kids live healthier lives, visit www.healthierkidsbrighterfutures.org
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Contact:
Jim Whitehead
jwhitehead@acsm.org
317-637-9200
This press release is from AAHE
The vision of AAHPERD is "Healthy People – Physically Educated and Physically Active!" Headquartered in Reston, VA, 25 miles west of Washington, DC, AAHPERD is the largest organization of professionals involved in physical education, physical activity, dance, school health and sport--all specialties related to achieving an active, healthy lifestyle. Its mission is to advance professional practice and promote research related to health and physical education, physical activity, dance and sport by providing its members with a comprehensive and coordinated array of resources, support and programs to help practitioners improve their skills to further the health and well-being of the American public. For more information, visit www.aahperd.org.