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Obesity 'Report Card' for States Released
May 04, 2005
America's 2005 obesity "report card" shows some progress among states but we are
still dangerously fat.
Released by the University of Baltimore's Obesity Initiative, California was the
only state to receive an "A". However, California's overall grade
when all issued were factored, was a "B."
About a quarter of states failed to meet minimum standards for controlling childhood obesity, the report card states. "Given the importance of establishing healthy habits early in life, the results are very disappointing,"
the researchers wrote.
Overall Grades
Here is how the states did on overall efforts to control obesity:
A: No states.
B: Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Washington
C: Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia
D: Alabama, Alaska, Delaware, Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Vermont, Wisconsin
F: Idaho, Nevada, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming
Grades for Childhood Obesity
this is how states did regarding efforts to curb childhood obesity:
A: California
B: Arkansas, Connecticut, Colorado, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, West Virginia
C: Arizona, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Nebraska, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia
D: Alabama, Florida, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Vermont
F: Alaska, Idaho, Nevada, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming
The report card was issued by the University of Baltimore's Obesity Initiative. Grades were based on
numerous factors including legislation introduced and/or passed by the states on eight topics: nutrition standards; vending machine usage; body mass index (BMI) measured in school; recess and physical education; obesity programs and education; obesity research; obesity treatment in health insurance; and obesity commissions. The researchers
based their results on each state's most recent legislative session.
For a grade of "A," states had to pass a law related to obesity. Points were
given if legislation was introduced but failed to pass. "Introducing legislation at least indicates some awareness and the presence of a will directed to controlling obesity," notes the report card.
"Overall, states have been slow to recognize the need for prompt actions that may have a more immediate effect," write researchers. "The absence of significant state efforts to address the epidemic is disturbing."
Three common areas of proposed legislation were:
—Recess/physical education requirements (27 states)
—Nutrition standards (23 states)
—Vending machine restrictions (21 states)
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