|  | Diet Nutrition | Weight Control

Child Obesity Laws

The obesity rate in America is reaching epidemic proportions. According to annecollins.com, the obesity rate among children has been steadily rising since 1982. Also increasing are hospital costs related to obesity. Although being an obese child is not against the law, several states have passed other forms of legislation to help reduce the growing problem. Laws that support mandatory physical education programs, accurate labeling and BMI testing have been passed in several states.

  1. Laws Enacted

    • With the obesity rate growing in America, several states have enacted legislation to help with the problem. Thirty-three of the 50 states have set up either mandatory school nutrition programs or mandatory physical education programs. Of the 33 states, 21 have opted to have both programs legally mandated. For example, in the state of Colorado, over 27 percent of its children are classified as obese. Although this is slightly under the national average, the state has made both physical education and school nutrition programs mandatory.

    State Task Forces

    • States are slowly creating task forces or committees to help with the problem of child obesity. According to State Health Facts, 14 of the 50 states have already taken this measure. The state of Alabama is one example. This state currently has a child obesity rate of over 36 percent--just over the national average of 31 percent.

    Body Mass Index Screening

    • Some states with high child obesity levels are starting to require body mass index (BMI) screening. State Health Facts says that currently eight of the 50 states require BMI screening for children. For example, the state of Arkansas has a child obesity rate of 37.5 percent, which is over the national average of 31 percent. Arkansas is one of the eight states that require the screening.

    Mandatory Menu Labeling

    • States are slowly requiring restaurants to label menus for foods that have high fat or caloric contents. Currently, four states require restaurants to label their menus accordingly. Massachusetts is one of these; it has a child obesity rate of 30 percent, which falls just under the national average.

Weight Control - Related Articles