Arkansas Halts Childhood Obesity Progression

24/08/06 Arkansas has halted the progression of childhood obesity, says Governor Mike Huckabee. In the state's third annual assessment of childhood and adolescent obesity, Huckabee said "We have stopped the locomotive train of childhood obesity in it's tracks, now it's time to turn the train around and move full speed ahead to healthier living.”

Research was carried out on all students' body mass index (BMI) in about 99% of the state's public schools. The Arkansas Act 1220 of 2003 requires that all public school students have an annual BMI screening. The act also calls for increased access to healthier foods in schools and local communities. The aim is also to help local communities encourage physical activity.

Huckabee added "I attribute the positive results in large part to the Healthy Arkansas initiative which has been instrumental in changing the attitudes of many Arkansans when it comes to good health. The emphasis on exercising, eating right and quitting smoking is taking hold and paying off in healthy dividends."

Huckabee thanked parents and teachers for their support in recent initiatives that limited access to vending machines in schools, while at the same time providing healthier alternatives. He praised parents' and teachers' efforts to increase physical activity in schools.

Measuring kids' BMI did not go down well in some communities. Several parents felt it was an invasion of privacy. However, it was decided that as parents were no longer providing good child nutrition, it became the responsibility of schools.