[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 13]
[House]
[Page 17231]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      COMBATING OBESITY IN AMERICA

  (Mrs. DAHLKEMPER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. DAHLKEMPER. Mr. Speaker, as I travel throughout my district, the 
primary concern I hear over and over again from Republicans, 
Independents, and Democrats, is that we need to reform our Nation's 
health care system. However, any meaningful reform must begin by taking 
control over the skyrocketing costs of health care. As a clinical 
dietitian for 25 years, I know that this can only be achieved with 
serious commitment to healthy living and combating obesity in America.
  A recent study by the National Center for Education Statistics found 
that one out of every five American 4-year-olds is obese. I would like 
to repeat that. One out of every five 4-year-olds in America is obese. 
Why is this a problem? The CDC estimated recently that the total cost 
of obesity in the United States is $117 billion.
  Mr. Speaker, as a Nation, if we are serious about reforming our 
health care system, we need to get serious about combating obesity. I 
urge my colleagues to join me in ensuring healthy living, wellness, and 
prevention are major components of the final health care bill. The 
success of our reform depends on it.

                          ____________________