FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 12, 2004

CONTACT: Jason Gibbs
(802) 828-3333

Fit and Healthy Kids Initiative

Montpelier, Vt. — Governor Jim Douglas today issued the following statement on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) report on tackling the nation's obesity problem. HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson released the report today.

The report, Calories Count: Report of the Working Group on Obesity, outlines an action plan to combat obesity, including obesity in America's young people.

Official Statement

Nothing is more important to the future than our youth. The report released today by Secretary Thompson underscores the critical importance of moving forward with a comprehensive effort to encourage and coordinate health education and activity programs for our children at both the state and federal levels.

That is why I have offered a Fit and Healthy Kids initiative, a comprehensive statewide plan to help Vermont's kids get the tools they need to be fit and healthy. It is Head Start for health.

The prevalence of obesity among our children is alarming and the rate continues to increase dramatically.

Unhealthy behaviors established during childhood often continue through the teen years and into adulthood, leading to a greater prevalence of chronic diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease and arthritis, among others. According to the Centers for Disease Control, nearly three quarters of all deaths among adults above the age of 25 in the U.S. are caused by five chronic diseases: heart disease and stroke (41%), cancer (24%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (4%), and diabetes (3%). These diseases are the source of unnecessary disability, suffering and enormous healthcare costs.

A commitment to the fitness and health of our children is an important part of my education and health policy reforms. Taken together, our efforts will help to reduce healthcare costs, improve student performance and keep our kids fit and healthy. Our children deserve nothing less.

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For more information on the Governor's Fit and Healthy Kids Initiative visit: www.vermont.gov/governor

For more information on the FDA report visit: www.fda.gov