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June 17, 2009
AUGUSTA– During her lengthy career in a western Maine school system as
a school nutritionist, Rep. Helen Rankin of Hiram worked to ensure that school
children had access to healthy, nutritious food at school. In recent years,
however, Rankin noticed a troubling trend. More and more kids were starting
school with elevated weights.
“We used to think that it was a good thing to see a child with chubby cheeks,” said Rep. Rankin. “But now we’re talking about kindergarteners who already are at risk of type II diabetes and a shortened lifespan because they are carrying too much weight. My experience tells me that we are seeing that more and more, but the state has not been collecting accurate data. I sponsored this legislation so that we could begin to more accurately quantify the extent of the problem and assess how our efforts to turn this epidemic around are faring.”
Rep Rankin was joined by a group of doctors, health advocates and legislators to celebrate the Governor’s signature of three bills that were enacted this legislative session aimed at the obesity epidemic that is currently sweeping the nation. Nearly two thirds of adults in Maine are now obese or overweight, doubling the rate in less than 20 years. Based upon current data the estimated rate of obese or overweight children has doubled and for teens the rate has tripled in the past 20 years.
“Overweight and obesity are now overtaking tobacco as the number one threat to public health,” said Dennise Whitley, Maine Advocacy Director of the American Heart Association. “The pervasiveness of obesity in our society and the many negative health conditions associated with it are leading some researchers to conclude that this generation of young people may be the first generation of children to have a lower life expectancy than their parents.”
In addition to Rep. Rankin’s bill to measure the heights and weights of Maine school children and transmit that data to the Maine Center for Disease Control (the information would remain confidential), Governor John E. Baldacci also signed two bills that aim at the root causes of obesity, diets and exercise. Many at the gathering mentioned the successful approaches taken to reduce tobacco usage, which were small and multifaceted, as a blueprint for action.
“The fact that we are here today at a signing of three bills underscores the fact that there is not one single approach to addressing the epidemic of obesity in our state,” said Karen O’Rourke, Acting Executive Director of the Maine Center for Public Health. “It will take multiple strategies to do what we need to do – change the culture to make the healthy choice the easy choice.”
Speaker of the House Hannah Pingree sponsored legislation to require chain restaurants of 20 or more to post calorie information on menus, menu boards and drive thrus. The policy has been supported as an effort to give consumers access to important nutrition information in order to help them make healthier decisions. Similar policies have been implemented in cities like New York City, Philadelphia and Seattle and have been passed in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Oregon. The United States Senate is currently considering legislation to create a national calorie posting standard as part of a federal health care reform bill.
“When you look at the calorie data, prepare to be surprised,” said Speaker Pingree. “The point of this policy isn’t to tell people what not to eat, but to give them information. We know the burger and fries aren’t the healthiest option, but you may be shocked to find out the salad could be even worse, or that you just ordered your child an entire days worth of calories in one sitting. The healthy choices at many chain restaurants may not be what you think they are, but by putting calorie information on the menu we can help people make better choices.”
Rep. Seth Berry of Bowdoinham sponsored legislation to increase physical activity in Maine schools. Rep. Berry’s bill to Implement the Recommendations of the PE4ME Planning and Oversight Team, creates the Physical Education Program, which encourages elementary schools to implement a vigorous physical activity and physical education program involving equipment, teacher training and student physical assessments.
“A lot of people assume that gym class is a central part of every kid’s school day,” said Rep. Berry. “But the reality is that some kids are lucky to have that physical activity once a week. We need to reassert physical activity in schools to present a better balance and improve the health of Maine kids. The bottom line on these three policies is that we need to take a comprehensive approach to building health back in our society, one step at a time.”
Some of the groups that were represented at the bill signing ceremony included: American Heart Association, Aetna, Maine Medical Association, Maine Osteopathic Association, Health Policy Partners of Maine, Maine Dietetic Association, MaineHealth, Maine Center for Public Health and the Maine Public Health Association.
Related Materials:
Photo from Bill Signing Ceremony
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