25 Percent Of Iowa Children Are Obese, Says Iowa Rep.

Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) states that the obesity rate for Iowans in grades 9-12 is 11.3 percent and that one out of every four Iowa children is obese or overweight, which leads to heart disease and Type 2 diabetes and will ultimately be a tremendous burden on the healthcare system. (00:32)

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We Cannot Avoid This Challenge, Says Pelosi Of Childhood Nutrition Bill

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) calls for immediate reauthorization of legislation that advocates nutrition for children and aims to fight childhood obesity and hunger as well as promoting healthy nutrition habits saying that Congress simply “cannot avoid this challenge.” (0:10)

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Passing Childhood Nutrition Bill Is Right, Moral Thing To Do Says Pelosi

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) calls the passage of legislation that advocates nutrition for children and aims to fight childhood obesity and hunger as well as promoting healthy nutrition habits the right, moral thing to do. (0:22)

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$10 Million In Anti-Obesity, Anti Tobacco Funding Aligns With First Lady's Children's Health Campaign, Says HHS Secretary

A $10 million grant for non-profit organizations to prevent and control obesity and tobacco use aligns directly with First Lady Michelle Obama's 'Let's Move' campaign,' Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told reporters Friday. (0:19)
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Fighting Obesity Requires Focusing On What Kids Can Do, Says Surgeon General

U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin says rather than discouraging young Americans by telling them what they can't do in terms of excercise, we must encourage them by focusing on things they're capable of. Benjamin testified Thursday on the importance of focusing on childhood obesity during a hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee. (0:31)
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Dr. Kaufman says Type 2 Diabetes in children fails to shock

Francine Kaufman, a past national president of the American Diabetes Association, tells a personal story from 1995, one of the first times she had seen a child with type 2 diabetes. Kaufman says that this thirteen year old girl had a blood sugar level five times higher than normal for a young teen, weighed 267 pounds, and was only just over five feet tall. Kaufman also says that the girl had been drinking a lot of juice and soda throughout her life, obtained a diet which consisted of fried foods, candy bars, and meals from fast food restaurants, had no meaningful physical education courses in her school curriculum, and had nowhere safe to play in her neighborhood. (1:14)
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Sen. Dodd: We can all point to the reasons why childhood obesity is increasing

Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) talks at the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions’ hearing on child obesity and says that the reasons are clear as to why childhood obesity is growing into an epidemic. Dodd explains that the lack of a nutritious diet, an increase in TV watching, and a decrease in physical activity has caused childhood obesity to become a problem that “affects us all.” (1:31)
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