[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 143 (Friday, September 23, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1712-E1713]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       RECOGNIZING SEPTEMBER AS CHILDHOOD OBESITY AWARENESS MONTH

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                          HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 23, 2011

  Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of September as 
Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. According to the National Health and 
Nutrition Examination Survey, thirty-two percent of children and 
adolescents in the U.S. are overweight. According to this study, 
sixteen percent of children and adolescents in the U.S. are obese, 
meaning they have a body mass index in the ninety-fifth percentile. In 
my home state of Missouri, almost thirty-four percent of children are 
obese and overweight. Sadly, the childhood obesity rate is growing, 
doubling over the last two decades, while the obesity rate for 
adolescents has nearly tripled over the last two decades.
  These staggering increases in obesity are leading to a number of 
health problems among America's youth. Incidents of type two

[[Page E1713]]

diabetes and hypertension are on the rise, and more children today are 
at risk of heart disease, cancer, and stroke. It has been estimated 
that one out of three males, and two out of five females born in the 
year 2000 will eventually suffer from type two diabetes.
  The obesity epidemic hits some communities harder than others, 
greatly impacting our more vulnerable communities. Studies have shown 
that these children are more likely to suffer from obesity and the 
related health problems. Low income areas have far fewer parks and 
sidewalks than wealthier communities, and children from these 
neighborhoods have less opportunity to play ball, ride bikes, or run 
outside. Children who live in lower income neighborhoods also have less 
access to fresh produce and healthy foods. Children living in food 
deserts are not able to consume healthier foods as often as they 
should, relying more on processed and high calorie foods for their 
meals.
  Mr. Speaker, it is essential that this Congress work to improve 
access to healthy food for all Americans. We need to teach our young 
healthy eating habits, promote physical activity, and increase access 
to fresh foods by encouraging supermarkets to open in the urban core, 
and embracing farmers markets and urban farming. Obesity is a costly 
epidemic. Not only does it drastically increase health care spending, 
totaling fourteen billion dollars a year, but it greatly reduces the 
health and prosperity of our children. I would also like to commend the 
hard work being done by Children's Mercy Hospital in bringing awareness 
to this issue. I urge my colleagues to stand with me in support of 
Childhood Obesity Awareness Month.

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