[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 77 (Thursday, May 20, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E898-E899]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               NATIONAL CHILDHOOD OBESITY AWARENESS MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. DONNA M. CHRISTENSEN

                         of the virgin islands

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 19, 2010

  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 966 
that will designate September as National Childhood Obesity Awareness 
Month and raise awareness around addressing childhood obesity.
  As this public health crisis continues to grow, we can point to a 
host of factors that are complicating efforts to reduce childhood 
obesity such as: prominent advertising of unhealthy foods, the 
popularity of big-portions meals that are high in calories and fat 
accompanied with sugary beverages, spending more time in front of the 
television and sedentary electronic games and fewer school physical 
education programs. Childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 
30 years. A recent CDC report found that about 14 percent of low-
income, pre-school-aged children in the Virgin Islands are obese, which 
is also the U.S. average.
  Childhood obesity disproportionately affects low-income and minority 
children. Obesity rates are higher in African American, Native 
American, and Mexican American adolescents than in White adolescents. 
Type 2 diabetes is disproportionately seen in Hispanic, Native 
American, and African American adolescents.
  Children that live in low-income neighborhoods often do not have 
access to recreational facilities, parks, or even sidewalks to walk on, 
limiting virtually any possibility of being physically active.
  They often don't have access to grocery stores to buy fruits and 
vegetables; rather gathering their nutritional content from fast food 
restaurants and convenience stores. These food deserts are prevalent in 
poor communities all over the country.
  As a physician I have also seen the adult consequences of childhood 
obesity: overweight and obese children grow up to be overweight or 
obese adults at increased risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, 
asthma, and some cancers--all of which are increasing exponentially, 
especially in communities of color.
  The time to intervene is now! We must continue to champion 
legislation and initiatives that will reduce the prevalence of 
childhood obesity. So on behalf of our Nation's youth, I support this 
resolution that will bring awareness to this epidemic in hopes of 
securing brighter, healthier futures for children all across the 
country.

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