HR1404 LRB094 21324 HSS 59700 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, Two out of every three Americans are now
3 overweight or obese; the percentage of young people who are
4 overweight has more than tripled since 1980; among children and
5 adolescents aged 6 to 19 years, over 9 million young people are
6 considered overweight; and
 
7     WHEREAS, A recent study found that because of the rapid
8 rise in obesity rates, today's youth may become the first
9 generation to live shorter lives than their parents; obesity
10 significantly increases the risk of serious chronic diseases
11 such as diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers; and
 
12     WHEREAS, In 2000, the estimated annual cost of obesity in
13 the United States was about $117 billion; and
 
14     WHEREAS, Despite the proven benefits of physical activity,
15 more than 50% of American adults do not get enough physical
16 activity to provide health benefits; according to the Institute
17 of Medicine, in 1969, an average of 48% of all students and 90%
18 living no more than a mile away walked or bicycled to school;
19 in 1999, only 19% of children walked to or from school and 6%
20 rode bicycles to school; and
 
21     WHEREAS, According to the U.S. Surgeon General, as policy
22 makers and health professionals, we must embrace small steps
23 toward coordinated policy and environmental changes that will
24 help Americans live longer, better, healthier lives; achieving
25 energy balance and balancing the amount of calories eaten with
26 calories burned through physical activity each day is the best
27 way to prevent weight gain; and
 
28     WHEREAS, Community commitment toward creating policies and
29 environments that provide opportunities for people to enjoy
30 physical activity and make healthy eating choices on a regular

 

 

HR1404 - 2 - LRB094 21324 HSS 59700 r

1 basis is essential for effective, lasting change; teachers,
2 parents, business leaders, and others across the nation are
3 joining together with America On the Move and YMCAs nationwide
4 and here in Illinois, including the Decatur Family YMCA, to
5 make these positive changes in our communities; therefore, be
6 it
 
7     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
8 NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
9 we recognize the month of September as "Step-tember" in
10 conjunction with America On the Move and YMCA Activate America,
11 and we ask everyone to make two simple changes: move a little
12 more by taking an extra 2,000 steps and eat wisely by consuming
13 100 fewer calories; and be it further
 
14     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
15 presented to the Decatur Family YMCA as an expression of our
16 esteem.