For a variety of reasons, our nation has become more sedentary over the past few decades.
We also tend to eat differently than we did a generation ago. As a result, we are now seeing increasing rates of obesity among our children. A survey from the Centers for Disease Control found that in 2007, 13 percent of North Carolina high school students — about one in every seven students — were obese and that 56 percent of them did not meet recommended levels of activity. Eighty-five percent did not eat enough fruits and vegetables in the week prior to the survey.
In the face of these statistics, we have tried over the past several years in North Carolina to encourage more activity and a better diet among our young people. We have set several new standards recently that I have detailed below. Also, the Legislative Task Force on Childhood Obesity has been meeting for several months and is preparing to release new recommendations for legislative action soon.
Thank you as always for your interest in state government. If you have any questions about this information or anything else that I can help with, please contact me. I am always glad to be of service.
Task Force on Childhood Obesity
The Task Force on Childhood Obesity is responsible for studying issues relating to childhood obesity. In the course of its study, the task force has been considering strategies to address the problem of childhood obesity and encourage healthy eating and increased physical activity among children through: (1) early childhood intervention; (2) childcare facilities; (3) before and after-school programs; (4) physical education and physical activity in schools; (5) higher nutrition standards in schools; (6) comprehensive nutrition education in schools; (7) increased access to recreational activities for children; (8) community initiatives and public awareness; among other means. The task force also encourages input from public nonprofit organizations, promoting healthy lifestyles for children, addressing the problems related to childhood obesity, encouraging healthy eating, and increasing physical activity among children. The group is expected to approve its final recommendations on April 19.
Nutrition Standards
For nutritional reasons, public schools are no longer allowed to use cooking oils that contain trans-fatty acids in their school food programs nor are they allowed to sell processed foods containing trans-fatty acids that were formed during the commercial processing of the foods [S.L. 2004-124 Sec. 7.29 – (HB 1414, Sec. 7,29].
We have modified the law governing beverages sold in vending machines during the school day in public schools and set the following requirements (S.L. 2005-253 – SB 961): (1) soft drinks cannot be sold during the breakfast and lunch periods; (2) soft drinks cannot be sold contrary to the requirements of the National School Lunch Program; (3) soft drinks cannot be sold at elementary schools; (4) sugared carbonated soft drinks may not be sold in a middle school; (5) sugared carbonated soft drinks in high school are limited to a maximum of 50 percent of the offerings; (6) diet carbonated soft drinks are not in the same category as sugared carbonated soft drinks; and (7) bottled water products must be available in all schools that have beverage vending. The act also permitted schools to adopt stricter policies for beverage vending. The act further provided that by the 2006-2007 school year, no snack vending was available to students in elementary schools and 75 percent of the snack vending products available in middle and high schools would have no more than 200 calories per portion or package.
The Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina and the State Board of Community Colleges were directed to adopt policies that prohibit the use of cooking oils that contain trans-fatty acids or the sale of processed foods containing trans-fatty acids [S.L. 2005-276, Sec. 9.28 (SB 622, Sec. 9.28)].
The State Board of Education was directed to establish nutrition standards that will gradually increase the amount of fruits, vegetables, and whole grain products in the items available for school meals and the After School Snack Program, and in a la carte foods and beverages [S.L. 2005-457 (HB 855)].
All elementary schools must achieve a basic level of the nutrition standards adopted by the State Board of Education to the end of the 2009-10 school year [S.L. 2008-107, Sec. 7.25 (HB 2436, Sec. 7.25)]. However, local school administrative units were encouraged to take steps to implement within existing funds and to the extent possible the nutrition program standards by the end of the 2008-09 school year.
Physical Education
The State Board of Education was directed to study the current status of K-12 physical education in the state [S.L. 2008-181, Part XXV (HB 2431, Part XXV)]. Each local school administrative unit was instructed to collect baseline data at the individual school level and report the data to the Department of Public Instruction. The baseline data included: (1) minutes in physical education on a weekly basis and number of physical education classes per week throughout the school year for every school; (2) average physical education class size for every school; (3) student Body Mass Index for a statistically valid random sample from all counties of students of varying ages; and (4) nutrition and physical activity knowledge and behaviors of students in the random samples.
Last session, we passed a new state law that directs the State Board Education to encourage local boards of education to enter into agreements with local governments and other entities regarding the joint use of their facilities for physical activity (S.L. 2009-334 – HB 1471).
Notes
Clariant, an international specialty chemicals company, will expand in Mecklenburg County. The company will consolidate customer service and business support operations from Rhode Island to its existing Monroe road facility in Charlotte, adding 50 jobs and investing $2.5 million during the next three years. The project was made possible in part by a $55,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.
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As I’ve said many times before, I hope you will continue to let me know how you feel about the issues that are being debated by the North Carolina Legislature and the challenges you and your family are facing each day.
By working together, we can make Northampton, Vance and Warren Counties and all regions of North Carolina a better place to live, work and raise a family.
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