GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE BECOME FIT

The Associated Press State & Local Wire
December 3, 2004

Gov. Bill Richardson wants New Mexico's young people to become more fit.

Richardson on Friday directed his Council on Physical Fitness and Health to get with state youth organizations in an effort to help young people become more active and develop healthy lifestyles.

"Youth obesity is a crisis in New Mexico," he said. "We must put in place programs to get our kids more active, educate them about fitness and nutrition and find ways to replace unhealthy snacks and beverages in our schools with more nutritious foods."

The governor's council will join New Mexico Action for Healthy Kids, the New Mexico Coalition to Promote Physical Activity and Nutrition and the New Mexico Pediatric Society in the effort.

Estimates are that in New Mexico, 17 percent of elementary school students, 52 percent of middle school students and 43 percent of high school students are overweight.

Chronic disease associated with obesity costs New Mexico more than $320 million a year, Richardson's office said.

The governor wants to increase the amount of time children in school spend on daily exercise; amend the public school code to require physical education and health education; eliminate the substitution of alternative activities to satisfy PE requirements to graduate from high school; implement statewide nutrition standards for schools; and support expansion of the school breakfast program.