Sat, May 17 2008
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Published May 07, 2008 12:00 am - As early as 2002, Oklahoma's rate of childhood obesity had been labeled an epidemic by public health officia... Kids deserve a chance to live healthy lifestyles The Norman Transcript As early as 2002, Oklahoma's rate of childhood obesity had been labeled an epidemic by public health officials. State lawmakers this week took steps to address the lack of physical activity in our children.
Gov. Brad Henry signed into law Monday Senate Bill 1186. It doubles the number of minutes of physical activity required in kindergarten through fifth grade. Elementary school students will now get 120 minutes of exercise. It's all part of a plan to move the needle on childhood obesity. In the past three decades, the rate of overweight children has more than doubled. Fifteen percent of our teenagers are considered severely overweight or obese, a 300 percent increase in 20 years, according to the governor. He blames a sedentary lifestyle and the prevalence of junk food. The governor also encouraged parents to become more effective role models for healthier lifestyles. More than 60 percent of our youths don't meet the recommended levels of physical activity. Adults don't do much better in the activity or overweight categories. We are 13th worst in overall obesity with between 18 percent and 22 percent of the population falling in the overweight and obese categories. Lawmakers took steps to encourage more healthy snacks in school vending machines. Some school administrators are worried the extra activity requirement will cut into the arts or other co-curricular activities. It may be too late for some adults to become more active but all children deserve the opportunity to start a healthy lifestyle. 
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