ACFN SUPPORTS CHILDHOOD OBESITY PREVENTION LEGISLATION'S EMPHASIS ON PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS

Washington, D.C., June 24, 2004 - The battle to reduce and prevent obesity gained momentum in the U.S. Senate this week when Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) and Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) joined forces to introduce the Childhood Obesity Prevention Act (S. 2551). This bipartisan legislation is aimed at empowering local schools to develop and implement programs designed to reduce and prevent obesity among American youth.

“The Childhood Obesity Reduction Act emphasizes early education, which research confirms as critical in the establishment of healthy lifestyles,” remarked American Council for Fitness and Nutrition (ACFN) Chair Dr. Susan Finn. “We support this bill for its focus on the local school environment as an effective venue where balanced nutrition and increased physical activity can be fostered and reinforced daily. It is vital that children learn early on the importance of balancing what they eat with what they do,” continued Finn.

ACFN collaborates with health professionals, educators, policy makers and consumers on lasting approaches to reducing obesity. To this end, ACFN supports providing teachers, children and parents with information and resources to assist them in making the best lifestyle choices regarding physical activity and nutrition. Additionally, ACFN supports increased physical activity for every American, with an emphasis on giving students in every school the opportunity to engage in 30 minutes of physical activity each day.

“The battle to reduce and prevent obesity is one that no single group can fight alone. ACFN supports elected officials as they advocate sustainable solutions and provide resources to jump start community initiatives aimed at reversing this trend,” said Finn.

Anne Flannery, an ACFN advisory board member and President/CEO of PE4Life, advocates the importance of daily physical education in America’s schools. "The bottom line is that America’s children need more physical education. We are at a point in our nation’s history where the need to teach our kids the benefits of a lifelong, physically active lifestyle has never been greater," said Flannery.

According to statistics, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children has increased dramatically in the past two decades. Data also suggests that overweight adolescents have a 70 percent chance of becoming overweight or obese adults.

CONTACT
Laura Sheehan
202.715.1526
laura@acfn.org

Christine Tucci
202.715.1517
christine@acfn.org

ABOUT THE AMERICAN COUNCIL FOR FITNESS AND NUTRITION: The American Council for Fitness and Nutrition (ACFN) is a non-profit organization that brings together food and beverage companies, associations, and health and nutrition advocates to work toward viable long-term solutions to the nation's obesity epidemic. ACFN represents a diverse group of organizations and is guided by an advisory board of experts in the fields of nutrition, physical activity and behavior change. ACFN works with partners to raise awareness of programs and policies that seek to improve health and wellness in America. For more information, please visit www.acfn.org.