Background and Scope

Background:

Healthy habits during early childhood are critical to setting children up to lead healthy lives in adulthood. It is well established that healthy weight management, nutrition and physical activity early in life lowers likelihood of chronic diseases, boosts academic achievement, and improves self-esteem and other mental health measures, among many other well-known benefits.

The high levels of childhood obesity has been a concerning trend for years, and was further exacerbated during COVID with children and teens gaining weight at “alarming rates.” One study found an increase in the percentage of obese children aged 2 to 19 increased to 22%, compared with 19 % before the pandemic.

Beyond the negative impacts obesity has on an individual’s personal health and wellness, and on society as a whole with the high cost of treating chronic conditions associated with obesity, it also has national security implications. It was recently reported that just 23% of 17-24 year olds are eligible to serve in our armed forces, a fraction of whom want to, as the number of American youth who meet fitness and academic criteria is decreasing.

The goal of this task force is to help children in our state lead healthier lives and set them up for lifelong success. We can make progress on this goal by further educating both children and their parents on the importance of proper nutrition early in life and the promotion of important environmental, nutritional, and lifestyle changes.

SCOPE STATEMENT:

The Speaker’s Task Force is directed to study childhood obesity and weight management. The Task Force shall consider circumstances contributing to childhood obesity, including physical activity, nutrition, medical, and other root causes and physical environment factors. The Task Force shall also review current and past efforts to prevent and improve weight management in order to consider and build upon effective practices.

Following these efforts, the Task Force shall consider recommending legislation in the following areas: (1) school-based efforts to impact circumstances contributing to childhood weight management; (2) parental support for and education on childhood weight management; (3) early interventions and screenings to better identify and promote healthy weight management; (4) removal of potential barriers and promotion of better access to proper nutrition and spaces for play and other physical activities; and (5) data collection efforts and implementation of childhood weight management interventions.