[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 9]
[House]
[Pages 13302-13303]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               NATIONAL CHILDHOOD OBESITY AWARENESS MONTH

  (Ms. FUDGE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, this week, I will reintroduce a resolution 
recognizing September as National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. 
September marks an opportunity for Congress to raise awareness of the 
issue while also discussing ways we can engage our families and 
communities on how best to curb this unhealthy trend.
  Over the past three decades, childhood obesity rates in the United 
States have tripled. Today, nearly one in three children are overweight 
or obese. These numbers are even higher in minority communities, where 
nearly 40 percent of African American and Hispanic children are 
overweight. Children today experience a different lifestyle from 30 
years ago, when kids ate less and exercised more.

[[Page 13303]]

  Many groups have stepped up to the plate to improve nutrition and 
physical activity for our children. Community partners like the 
Campaign to End Obesity, Cheer for a Healthier America, YWCA, and 
HealthCorps have taken the charge to achieve the healthiest lives we 
can give them.
  Let us use the month of September to elevate the issue of childhood 
obesity and recognize our community partners.

                          ____________________