Healthy Kids from Day One Act

Senator Mark Udall

Obesity rates are reaching epidemic levels in the United States, and our children are being hit particularly hard. Today, about one in three children are either overweight or obese as a comparison, roughly 4% of children in 1960 would classify as such. More than 21 percent of preschool children are obese or overweight. Being overweight or obese can lead to many chronic health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. All of these conditions are costly for health care purchasers and patients, reduce quality of life, and are among the top six leading causes of death each year. Obesity comes with a tremendous economic cost. By 2018, the average obese person will pay $8,315 a year in medical bills compared to $5,855 for an adult at a healthy weight. Thats a difference of $2,460, or a 42 percent increase. Driving down the costs of health care will require us to take serious steps to curb the alarming growth in obesity in this country. The good news is that, in the vast majority of cases, obesity is completely preventable. Specifically for children, the eating and physical fitness habits developed early in life are related to whether or not a child will maintain or develop obesity or become overweight later in life. Key Elements of the Healthy Kids from Day One Act Pilot Program: The legislation would create a 3-year pilot program in 5 states to support child care collaboratives that focus on combating obesity among our youngest children. These collaboratives will work to do the following in child care settings: Promote physical activity. Create healthier eating environments. Limit the amount of time children spend in front of the TV or other digital screens. Promote parental engagement. Training: The collaboratives bring child care providers together in structured learning sessions to share strategies and techniques to improve healthy eating and physical activity of children in child care settings. Finding Out What Works: Upon completion of the pilot, HHS will use consistent metrics to evaluate the program and report back to Congress. Best practices will be identified, disseminated and encouraged in other existing federal programs. Federal Coordination: HHS will ensure this pilot coordinates activities with the National Prevention, Health Promotion and Public Health Council. This will minimize the duplication of resources and eliminate the need for a new government entity for this program.

Groups in Support of HKD1

American Academy of Pediatrics American Heart Association American Public Health Association Association of State and Territorial Health Officials Be Active New York State Center for Communications, Health & the Environment Center for Science in the Public Interest Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition Colorado Childrens Campaign Colorado Health Foundation Defeat Diabetes Foundation Hepatitis Foundation International LiveWell Colorado National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity Nemours SPARK Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association Trust for Americas Health YMCA of the USA