|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
|
State
Rep. Mike Gerber |
|
Gerber's 'Healthy Schools' bill approved by House committee
HARRISBURG, July 2 – The House Health and Human Services Committee this week approved state Rep. Mike Gerber's "Healthy Schools" legislation to improve nutritional standards in Pennsylvania's schools, sending it to the full House of Representatives.
House Bill 1572 would encourage healthier food choices for students during school hours by prohibiting the sale of beverages other than water, reduced-fat milk and fruit juices made from 100 percent real juice in elementary and middle schools. In high schools, the bill would permit the sale of non-carbonated beverages with fewer than 66 calories.
The bill would also ban the sale of snacks that have more than 150 calories, 30 percent total calories from fat, more than 35 percent weight from added sugars, and more than 230 milligrams of sodium. Under the bill, school cafeterias would be required to offer students the choice of at least two fruits and/or non-fried vegetables on a daily basis.
"Nearly one out of every five American children today is obese. The rate has doubled in children and tripled in teenagers during the last two decades, along with the prevalence of sugary drinks and unhealthy foods in our schools. Childhood obesity is reaching epidemic levels in Pennsylvania, and promises to have an increasingly negative impact on our children if we don’t act responsibly," he said.
The lawmaker said in addition to lowering the rate of childhood obesity, his legislation would improve student achievement and reduce taxpayer-funded health-care costs.
"What must also concern us is how childhood obesity impacts our health-care system. A 2004 study of Medicare and Medicaid expenditures found that obesity costs Pennsylvania $1.2 billion annually. We must be proactive for not only our children's' sake, but for our economic viability," he said.
He said his legislation would help parents fight childhood obesity while children are away from the home, noting that a 2005 study found that 84 percent of Pennsylvania parents would approve limiting school vending machine sales to water, fruit juice and milk. The same study found 79 percent of parents strongly opposed the sale of soda in schools.
He also pointed to the long-term effects of unchecked childhood obesity, which could potentially hinder a child's ability to serve in the military. He said the group Operation Readiness, which is comprised of current and retired military officials, want to see better nutritional standards in schools. That group said 27 percent of potential recruits are rejected because they are too overweight to serve, a figure that has increased dramatically in the past decade.
Studies have shown that overweight children have a greater risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure, certain cancers, gallbladder disease, psychological stress, poor body image and low self-esteem.