Healthy Choices Act

[Guest guest]

On May 5, U.S. Rep. Ron Kind (D-Wis.) and several Congressional co-sponsors

introduced the " Healthy Choices Act, " a bill proposing a comprehensive

national approach to addressing the country's obesity crisis.

The bill's many provisions include ones that would align federal food

programs with existing governmental nutritional guidelines; make healthy

foods affordable and accessible to children and adults most at risk,

including rural and low-income urban areas; coordinate the federal response

to addressing the obesity crisis (including realigning transportation policy

to encourage healthier lifestyles); and provide children and adults with

opportunities for physical activity, nutritional information and assessment

tools.

Doctors would be provided with tools to diagnose and treat obesity, and

funding would be provided to help researchers develop more effective

prevention and treatment methods.

One provision falling under the assessment area could raise some privacy

concerns: It would require pediatricians to measure the body mass index, or

BMI, of school-age children and note this in children's vaccination records.

The bill was unveiled with a Capitol Hill event by Kind and co-sponsors

Bono-Mack (R-Calif.), Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) and Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio),

together with the Campaign to End Obesity, the American Heart Association,

the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) and YMCA.

Rick Wolford, chairman of GMA's board of directors and chairman, president

and CEO of Del Monte Foods, issued a follow-up statement praising the bill's

sponsors for creating " sensible, science-based legislation " with a framework

that is " both simple and attainable. "

The American Beverage Association (ABA) also issued a statement confirming

its support of the bill, noting that it addresses " both sides of the energy

balance equation " by complementing the industry's School Beverage Guidelines

while also providing physical education in schools, nutrition education and

improved access to physical activity in communities throughout the country.

" It's refreshing to see legislation introduced that attempts to tackle the

complex problem of obesity in a holistic way, " the ABA statement added.

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--

Ortiz, MS, RD

" I love being married. It's so great to find that one special person you

want to annoy for the rest of your life. "

" Cause of obesity, heart disease and cancer: Look at the end of your fork "