Essay - Childhood Obesity Texas Senate Bill 73 Childhood Obesity: Texas Senate...

CHILDHOOD OBESITY TEXAS SENATE BILL 73

CHILDHOOD *****: TEXAS ***** BILL *****

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The state of Texas has passed a Bill to be enacted into Law, specifically ***** Senate Bill 73 that has as its' focus the reduction and prevention of childhood o*****sity in ***** state. Childhood obesity in the state of Texas is higher than the national average and the ***** has responded with ***** ********** of an initiative that is inclusive of schools, communities, parents, businesses, and insurance coverage providers. The program ***** been named CATCH or a "Co*****dinated Approach to Child Health" headed by the ***** Department of Health, the American Heart Association's Texas Chapter ***** the Center ***** Health Promotion and Prevention Research at the University ***** Health Science ***** at Houston. ***** Department of St*****e Health Services has been appointed to "analyze ***** evaluate whether a st*****tewide wellness council would assist the department in promot*****g consumer health and educating Texans on ***** importance ***** proper nutrition ***** physical activity in preventing obesity-related health concerns. Costs associated ***** childhood obesity include both direct and indirect costs illustrated in high personal costs, direct national costs and rising disability claims. It is clearly demonstrated in the cost analysis within the attached work ***** it is ***** more expensive to ignore th***** problem ********** ***** enact and implement the proposed ***** and ***** program in the state of Texas. Strategic alignment ***** all stakeholders is shown to be 'key' to successful *****ation of this program in ***** state of Texas.

CHILDHOOD OBESITY: TEXAS SENATE BILL 73

Objective

The objective of ***** work is ***** research and review ***** obesity relat*****g to ***** Senate Bill 73.

Introduction

The state of Texas *****s that the overweight and obesity rates for Texas fourth-graders are approximately double the ***** average ***** ***** age group and further***** than childhood ***** ***** more than doubled in the past 20 years. The obesity rates for Latino/Hispanic and African-American children in Texas are among the highest in the nation. Being ***** not only increases the risk of developing high blood pressure but also increases the chance of ***** type 2 diabetes, kidney problems and certain types of cancer. In answer to the problem of childhood ***** in ***** state ***** Texas, the Texas Department of Health, the American Heart Association's Texas Chapter and the Center of Health Promotion and Prevention ***** at the University Texas Health ***** Center at Houston implemented CATCH - or 'A Coordinated Approach to Child Health'. The CATCH program is inclusive ***** the following components: (1) A curriculum, ***** education and healthy eating components and parent involvement; (2) Physical ***** classes with a design that promotes physical activity throughout the life of ***** individual through a blend ***** fun *****nd fitness; (3) School cafeterias preparation of foods that are lower in sodium and fat; (4) Teachers utilize a curriculum that supports and ***** healthy habits that have been proven ***** prevent disease ***** a chronic nature; and (5) Parents provide reinforcement *****