Congressman Cohen Introduces Reducing Obesity in Youth Act

WASHINGTON -- Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today introduced legislation to address the epidemic of childhood obesity in America. Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey plans to introduce a companion bill in the Senate next week. The measure, the Reducing Obesity in Youth Act, would create incentives to improve the future health of American children and affect future national health care costs and national security.

Today, one in three American teens and children is overweight or obese, placing them at risk of a host of cardiovascular diseases, including heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

“I have long been concerned that Tennessee has one of the highest childhood obesity rates in the nation. The national childhood obesity rate is dangerously high but, in recent years, Tennessee has trended even higher than the national average. The Reducing Obesity in Youth Act I am introducing with Senator Booker would reverse this trend and improve the health and well-being of America’s children. Research shows that early childhood is an important time for developing positive dietary and physical activity behaviors. The House and Senate bills being introduced would create a competitive grant program to incentivize the development of earlier health and nutrition education environments for our children. A healthy start will lead to healthy lives.”

Senator Booker made the following statement:

“A healthy nation begins with healthy children. Childhood obesity is not only a health crisis that results in greater risk of chronic illnesses, stroke, and heart disease, but also carries serious economic consequences. This bicameral legislation will fund grant programs to promote healthy eating habits, increase physical activity, and ensure a healthier future for our nation.”

The legislation is endorsed by the Association of State Public Health Nutritionists, Better Children’s Diets, Curricula Concepts, Inc., First Focus Campaign for Children, Florida Chapter for the American Academy of Pediatrics, Health Council of Southeast Florida, Jump in for Healthy Kids, Kids Forward, Laurie M. Trisch Center for Food, Education, and Policy, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, Mary Ann Liebert Inc., Nemours Children’s Health System, Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation, Save the Children, and the Society of Behavioral Medicine.

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