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Ohio slow in reacting to obesity in children

But state officials are now developing programs to help kids get and stay fit.

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The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer 7:31 PM Saturday, July 4, 2009

Nineteen states say their schools must serve lunches that are healthier than the federal government requires.

Ohio isn’t one of them.

Twenty states have passed laws requiring children to be weighed in school so they and their families know if they’re overweight or obese.

Ohio isn’t one of them.

And 27 states require food sold in school vending machines and at school bake sales to be at least somewhat healthy.

Ohio isn’t one those states, either.

Those facts were pointed out in a national report on obesity released Wednesday, July 1, by Trust for Americas Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

The report, F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies Are Failing America in 2009, urges us to focus on reducing obesity, particularly now as the United States reforms health care.

This is much more than a health issue, the report emphasizes.

Obesity costs the country billions of dollars in medical treatment for diabetes, heart disease and other weight-related diseases.

So what’s up with Ohio?

Why isn’t it helping kids get fit when so many other states are?

The short answer: Ohio’s working on it.

“This is something that’s just now beginning with us,” says Kristopher Weiss, spokesman for the Ohio Department of Health.

“We are beginning here at the health department to work with our sister agencies to help make improvements in school nutrition options available to children and physical activity opportunities before, during and after school.”

Weiss also points to Ohio’s Obesity Prevention Plan, which the health departments Office of Healthy Ohio released in March. That plan sets more than two-dozen goals for the state to meet between now and 2015.

Its not easy, but it can be done.

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I agree, tax the heck out of fast food, junk food, candy, soda, etc. Use the money to subsidize fresh fruits and vegetables, healthy school lunches (not tater tots and sloppy joes), and K-12 health and physical education programs.

KAF
7:27 PM, 7/6/2009

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They didn't get fat eating just the school lunches! Once again the schools are tasked to do what mom & dad are not doing.

flipper
4:27 PM, 7/6/2009

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I guess if you are an adult and you wish to be an overweight eye-sore who dies before they reach 50 years old, then go ahead and keep beng fat. However,the children need to be educated and guided in the right direction so that when they become adults, they may choose to live a healthier lifestyle.

Kids need guidance, and if they can't get it at home,then they need to get it somewhere else.

fat kids
2:24 PM, 7/6/2009

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The S.C.S. K-5 only have gym onces a week with recess for 15min that the teachers always find some excuse not to give and grades 6-8 one quarter of gym. There are healther choices out there for a lunch menu but if they think many children and going to eat carrots and peas think again.

omg
8:56 PM, 7/5/2009

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You are kidding yourself if you think what they serve at the S.C.S. are healthy food choices. My children skip lunch most of the time. I think they should provide microwaves so kids can have more choices to pack besides PBJ and coldcuts. Also everybody knows if people had more time to eat and not shoving food in in 30min or less they could feel full and put the food down. What we need is a mine your own business tax. So many people are living in glass houses. Please keep your glasses half full

omg
8:42 PM, 7/5/2009

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