An All-Out War On Child Obesity

Decrying what is widely viewed as a national epidemic, a Montgomery County delegate to the Maryland General Assembly rolled out one of the most ambitious plans yet to combat the mounting problem of child obesity in the schools.

Delegate Joan Stern’s plan would involve a multi-pronged attack. Lunchroom nutrition would undergo a complete overhaul, including a soft-drink ban. Children also would receive five hours of exercise every week through mandatory gym class. They would also be required to fill out a health questionnaire to ensure that school authorities had a stronger grasp of the problem and were better prepared to apply for federal health grants.

About 15 percent of people ages 6 to 19 are overweight, a percentage that has tripled since 1980, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.

Critics of the plan contend it would undermine other efforts that also must receive top priority.

"We really barely have time for English, language arts, math and the core components," John R. Woolums, director of governmental relations for the Maryland Association of Boards of Education, who is urging the legislative committee entrusted with initial review of Stern’s plan not to pass it.

Posted by Jim Langcuster at February 16, 2004 07:59 AM