Last night, the Ohio Senate voted 24-7 in support of Senate Bill 210. This legislation is a first step towards addressing childhood obesity in Ohio. We know children spend much of their time in school and schools have a powerful impact on children. The legislation will allow schools to use that influence for postive change. The bill, as passed in the Senate, will:
While many solutions are needed for this epidemic, SB 210 (and its House counterpart, House Bill 373) will begin to solve the problem. We applaud the Senate for their work on this important topic.
- Set beverage nutrition standards similar to the agreement with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation and the American Beverage Association.
- Set a standard for snack foods sold outside of the school meal program. (At the federal level, the American Heart Association is working to pass the NEW Schools Act.)
- Beginning in 2013, new physical education teachers will be certified to teach in the subject area. It will also require the adoption of performance indicators to improve the quality of physical education
- Encourage schools to provide 30 minutes of physical activity daily. This can be accomplished through a variety of mechanisms.
- Utilize Body Mass Index (BMI) to evaluate the impact of these efforts and help gauge the need for other solutions.
While many solutions are needed for this epidemic, SB 210 (and its House counterpart, House Bill 373) will begin to solve the problem. We applaud the Senate for their work on this important topic.
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