Does $147 billion ring a bell? Recent news reports estimate the cost of obesity in our country totals that much. And that's not the end; childhood obesity is a growing problem.
In Texas more than 32 percent of children are either overweight or obese. It's clear that lawmakers need to create a statewide Physical Education Coordinator. This champion for PE in our school system would:
- make sure schools actually have physical education and not just activity
- develop strategic plans for improving PE
- implement new and creative approaches for reducing obesity in students
- increase accountability among schools to produce results
Across the country, 32 states have this type of position, and it's time for Texas to have one. Urge lawmakers to reduce childhood obesity in Texas by improving PE in schools!
We took action on “Curb Childhood Obesity in Texas Schools”!
# 1,064:
3:10 am PST, Nov 21,Mel Sinclair, Texas
# 1,063:
8:39 am PST, Nov 20,Carrie Zeigler, Ohio
# 1,062:
3:05 pm PST, Nov 18,Janice Sturdy, United Kingdom
ALL OUR CHILDREN NEED TO BE HAPPY AND HEALTHY, PLEASE ACT NOW. ALSO MAKE HEALTHY FOOD AFFORDABLE FOR EVERYONE AS IT SHOULD BE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
# 1,061:
2:20 pm PST, Nov 14,Marissa Chiappetta, Florida
# 1,060:
11:04 am PDT, Oct 27,Rachel Maria, Germany
# 1,059:
9:06 am PDT, Oct 26,Amy Mulvany, Ireland
# 1,058:
6:47 pm PDT, Oct 21,Caro Liu, Pennsylvania
# 1,057:
1:16 pm PDT, Oct 21,Carole Hagen, Oregon
# 1,056:
7:56 pm PDT, Oct 18,Name not displayed, Texas
please do not ignore this letter, is very important to help our children,they are our little angels.
# 1,055:
1:58 am PDT, Oct 18,Can Atik, Turkey
# 1,054:
2:02 pm PDT, Oct 15,William Harper, Georgia
# 1,053:
4:28 pm PDT, Oct 14,Julia Burwell, Washington
# 1,052:
5:03 pm PDT, Oct 11,Kristina Jernt, Texas
# 1,051:
1:25 pm PDT, Oct 11,Roya Mirmontazeri, Texas
# 1,050:
1:17 pm PDT, Oct 11,Christina Anderson, Canada
# 1,049:
12:21 pm PDT, Oct 11,Nancy Haywood, Texas
# 1,048:
10:20 am PDT, Oct 11,Vanice Medley, Texas
# 1,047:
7:15 am PDT, Oct 11,William Ward, Texas
# 1,046:
5:27 am PDT, Oct 11,Yalonda Dye, Texas
Because we are no longer hunters and gatherers we no longer have a reason to stay active. We need to change our approach to our daily lives and the intake of processed foods.
# 1,045:
6:21 pm PDT, Oct 10,Kathy Harrison, Texas
Most schools no longer offer PE once a day and though on good weather days students are taken out for recess, that is not enough. Recess only goes through the elementary grades anyway. Most children don't go outside once they get home because it is not as safe as it was and they are involved in computer games.
# 1,044:
2:58 pm PDT, Oct 10,Amanda Werner, Nebraska
# 1,043:
10:01 am PDT, Oct 10,Marti Freitag, Texas
# 1,042:
9:57 am PDT, Oct 10,Lauren McNease, Texas
# 1,041:
8:58 am PDT, Oct 10,Carolyn Gregory, Texas
# 1,040:
8:21 am PDT, Oct 10,Laurie Durante Featherston, Texas
# 1,039:
3:20 pm PDT, Oct 9,MaryAlice Trumble, Texas
# 1,038:
12:22 pm PDT, Oct 9,Phyllis Beal, Texas
# 1,037:
10:36 am PDT, Oct 9,Gloria Campos-Hensley, Texas
Children should enjoy a long healthy life.
# 1,036:
8:31 am PDT, Oct 9,Jessica Walker, Texas
# 1,035:
8:22 pm PDT, Oct 8,Michael Morningstar, Texas
# 1,034:
12:30 pm PDT, Oct 8,Andrea Johnson, Texas
# 1,033:
11:44 am PDT, Oct 8,Sally Reagan, Texas
# 1,032:
9:44 am PDT, Oct 8,Nestor Topchy, Texas
# 1,031:
9:10 am PDT, Oct 8,Nadine Takara, Texas
# 1,030:
8:15 am PDT, Oct 8,Joan Cook, Texas
Improve school education and have more PE classes. Control restaurants serving bad oils, cholosterol, etc.
# 1,029:
7:28 am PDT, Oct 8,Sandra Swann, Texas
Since it is clear that parents won't do their jobs, schools must step in to educate children about nutrition and exercise.
# 1,028:
8:15 pm PDT, Oct 7,Kimberly Benavides, Texas
# 1,027:
5:36 pm PDT, Oct 7,Dana Irby, Texas
# 1,026:
12:58 pm PDT, Oct 7,David Bonifay, Texas
# 1,025:
11:26 am PDT, Oct 7,Megan Dobbins, Texas
# 1,024:
11:22 am PDT, Oct 7,Anna Sebesta, Texas
# 1,023:
10:09 am PDT, Oct 7,Jose Villanueva, Texas
# 1,022:
8:59 am PDT, Oct 7,Meta HUNT, Texas
# 1,021:
7:34 am PDT, Oct 7,Beth Vaughan, Texas
# 1,020:
5:41 am PDT, Oct 7,ANTONIO (TONY) SILVA, Texas
we need to use our sientists and get them a good salary $$$$$ we more for a baseball, boxing, football, socor etc more money then we pay Doctors that want to save lifes.
# 1,019:
4:10 am PDT, Oct 7,Cheryl Staton, Texas
# 1,018:
4:08 am PDT, Oct 7,Mitchell Maness, Texas
# 1,017:
9:38 pm PDT, Oct 6,Denise Vasquez, Texas
# 1,016:
10:54 am PDT, Oct 6,Cherise Scally, Texas
# 1,015:
10:46 am PDT, Oct 6,Miriam Benabib, Texas
Creating good eating habits is crucial to reduce obesity. Better quality and choices of non fattening foods in school lunches are very important. Lets reduce fried and carbohydrate loaded foods served to children at school.
# 1,014:
9:01 am PDT, Oct 6,Sarah Cole, Arkansas
# 1,013:
7:57 am PDT, Oct 6,Holly Poole, Texas
# 1,012:
2:50 am PDT, Oct 6,Brian Hoskins, Texas
# 1,011:
7:51 pm PDT, Oct 5,Angie Binner, Pennsylvania
# 1,010:
2:25 pm PDT, Oct 5,James Robeson, Texas
# 1,009:
1:49 pm PDT, Oct 5,Marlena Cobb, Texas
# 1,008:
11:13 am PDT, Oct 5,Lori Zeller, Texas
# 1,007:
7:42 am PDT, Oct 5,Stacie Holman, Texas
overweight kids equals everweight adults, miserable people, higher medical bills, and early death. Need I say more.
# 1,006:
7:41 am PDT, Oct 5,Marian Skewes, Texas
Childhood obesity is a major, multifactorial reason that we have so many unhealthy young adults. Type II Diabetes Mellitus (DM) used to be called 'adult diabetes'. We can no longer classify children with diabetes as Type I just based on their age. Obese children are being diagnosed daily with Type II DM. Initiating a physical activity program is a significant means of addressing one of the causes of childhood obesity today. Health care is concerned about costs. If we as a population can delay or completely prevent childhood obesity, we would significantly lower health care costs - likely in the millions in a 10 year time frame. As a nurse, I have seen young people with devastating strokes because of their HTN, Type II DM, and dyslipidemia. Many of these conditions are brought on secondary to their obesity and lack of physical activity. Obesity is now considered a separate risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The number one killer and cause of disability in the US for women is cardiovascular disease. Why would anyone be against making our future adults a healthier group?
# 1,005:
7:31 am PDT, Oct 5,Yvonne Aguirre, Texas
The children of our state will be happier and healthier if we can help them with their fitness levels. We must do everything we can. This could be a great beginning.
# 1,004:
4:22 am PDT, Oct 5,Susan Torres, Texas
More affordable healthy food and activities that use the body is the way to go!!
# 1,003:
8:57 pm PDT, Oct 4,Austin Greene, Texas
# 1,002:
8:28 pm PDT, Oct 4,Kathy Duke, Texas
# 1,001:
4:12 pm PDT, Oct 4,MaryAnn Jones, Texas
Organized PT/Intramural sports and exercises are NECESSARY for our children to decrease obesity, learn how exercise helps our bodies become healthy, and increase social & fun opportunities for our most precious to have a healthy future!
