Special Edition of the State Education Standard Highlights Education Policymakers' Role in Reversing the Childhood Obesity Epidemic

Special Edition of the State Education Standard Highlights Education
Policymakers' Role in Reversing the Childhood Obesity Epidemic

ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The new issue of The State
Education Standard, the journal of the National Association of State Boards of
Education (NASBE), examines how education policymakers can best address
childhood obesity in school settings. This edition includes new information
and resources for state and district leaders to help them incorporate the new
Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans throughout the school day, improve
the school food environment and apply evidence-based recommendations for the
implementation of local wellness policies. Articles in the journal also draw
lessons from key national nutrition standards for foods sold outside of school
meals and consider the unique needs of children in at-risk communities, among
many other critical issues.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091016/DC90501LOGO)

Even as more attention is being paid to the epidemic in the media, what has
not changed is that nearly one-third of American children and adolescents are
obese or overweight. State boards of education are at the nexus of student
health and education policy, providing them with the opportunity to help
children learn about healthy eating and physical activity practices, as well
as providing a supportive school environment.

"Few dispute that childhood obesity and overweight are significant
contributors to chronic health problems, such as diabetes and cardiovascular
diseases," said NASBE Executive Director Brenda Welburn. "The cost of
developing and implementing obesity prevention policies in school settings now
pales in comparison to the amount of money spent on treating these chronic
conditions over time. Strong state-level education policy is essential to
reversing the childhood obesity epidemic."

Publication of this edition of the Standard was made possible by a grant from
Leadership for Healthy Communities, a national program of the Robert Wood
Johnson Foundation. The Standard is available for download at www.nasbe.org. A
four-issue subscription to the Standard is $35. Single copies are available
for $10. Call (800) 220-5183 to order.

The National Association of State Boards of Education represents America's
state and territorial boards of education. NASBE exists to strengthen State
Boards as the preeminent educational policymaking bodies for citizens and
students. For more, visit www.nasbe.org.

SOURCE National Association of State Boards of Education

Steve Berlin of the National Association of State Boards of Education,
+1-703-740-4840, steveb@nasbe.org