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Yahoo!
News Thu,
Dec 18, 2003 GREEN
BAY, Wis. - Gov. Jim Doyle has announced creation of the Governor's Council on
Physical Fitness and Health as part of an effort to promote fitness in the
state. I
will rely on this group to provide me with advice and suggestions about good
programs and policy that we can put forward to improve the health of our
children," Doyle told a physical education class Monday at King Elementary
School. Doyle
has named 17 people to the council, including nutrition professionals, nonprofit
leaders, physical education teachers, professors and doctors. "Obesity
and poor fitness not only affect our children's self-esteem and school
performance — they also cost our state hundreds of millions of dollars in
health care costs," the governor said. "The solution to our battle
against childhood obesity is better nutrition and greater physical
fitness." Doyle
said his call earlier this year for legislation making state schools participate
in the federal school breakfast program was part of that battle. He
suggested physical education classes should focus more on lifetime fitness
activities than on traditional team sports. "While
not every kid can be a star athlete, every one needs to be more involved in
fitness to promote their physical well-being both as a kid and as an
adult," Doyle said. |