Childhood Obesity is increasing at an alarming rate!

From 1993 to 2002, the childhood obesity problem grew 34% for children ages two to five.  Currently, 12.5 million US children and adolescents between six and 19 years of age are seriously overweight. (American Medical Association)

In 2002, the HealthierUS School Initiative was launched. It was designed to challenge schools to take significant steps to improve meals, provide nutrition education and provide physical activity to combat childhood obesity. “The Administration is working to combat obesity by educating young people about healthy eating and physical activity,” said Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman.

On June 30, 2004, President Bush signed into law the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, which contains a local school wellness policy provision—an important new tool to address obesity and promote healthy eating and physical activity through changes in school environments. The school district policies must address, among other things, goals for nutrition education and physical activity