In January 2012, Illinois State Representative Micheal Zalewski (D- Chicago) introduced a bill that would ban on the use of SNAP benefits to purchase sugar sweetened beverages. As of March 2012, the bill was referred to the rules committee, where it ...
Read MoreThe Center for Science in the Public Interest along with 10 health departments, 20 health and consumer organizations, and 41 health professionals has sent a petition to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asking them to rethink the role of sugar in the American diet. Among the specific requests, the petition asks the FDA to work with the food industry to limit the sale of over-sized sugar-sweetened beverages in restaurants and in vending machines. The petition also asks the FDA to initiate a rule-making process to ensure that the content of sucrose and high fructose corn syrup in beverages is limited to safe levels consistent with authoritative recommendations. Consuming too much sugar has been linked to all sorts of health problems, including childhood obesity. Since minority ...
Read MoreWhile New York City is trying to reign in sugary drink consumption by banning large sodas, the state of New York is joining the fight. A group of state assembly members have introduced H.B. 2982 that would impose a tax on some junk food, like sugary drinks and snacks. But the bill takes it even further. It would also impose a tax on certain video games, compact discs, and other media. All the revenue would be put into a childhood obesity prevention ...
Read MoreA tax on sugar-sweetened beverages is back on the table in Texas. In late January 2013, State Representative Joe Farias( D- San Antonio) introduced two similar bills, that would tax sugary drinks and then use some of the revenue raised to fund children's health programs. Similar bills were introduced in 2012 and subsequently died in committee. Both 2013 bills met the same fate this summer, but they did bring awareness to the health risks of drinking too many sugary ...
Read MoreIn early 2011, Arizona State Representative Matt Heinz (D-Tucson) introduced a tax on sugar sweetened beverages. The bill died in committee. This was the fourth attempt at levying a tax of some kind on sugar-sweetened beverages in ...
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On January 8, 2013, the Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children (CLOCC) released the Blueprint for Accelerating Progress in Childhood Obesity Prevention in Chicago: The Next Decade. It was created after a year of strategic planning with national and local experts to create goals, objectives, and strategies for Chicago to undertake to make a substantial difference in childhood obesity rates in the city. Among the recommendations outlined in the plan were price incentives and disincentives for unhealthy beverages, policies that promote greater food access for all, and continuing to remove unhealthy competitive foods in schools. In Chicago public schools, Hispanic children make up almost half of the student body. Keep up to date with CLOCC's progress through their ...
Read MoreIn late January 2013, Texas State Representative Richard Peña Raymond (D- Laredo) introduced H.B. 751 that would prohibit the purchase of sugar-sweetened beverages, cookies, potato chips, and candy with SNAP benefits. The bill died in committee during the summer ...
Read MoreUnhealthy drinks are the source of many extra calories in kids' diets, especially among Latino children. Unfortunately sodas and other sugary drinks are easy to find in almost every community---even in hospitals! Let's be real: hospitals and sugary drinks just don't mix! In order to encourage patients and their families to make healthy beverage options, Indiana University Heath has begun removing all sugary drinks from cafeterias, vending machines and gift shops. Starting with their downtown Indianapolis and Fishers hospitals, the hospital system plans to eventually move sugary drinks out of its about a dozen other hospitals around the state. This sort of internal policy helps patients and families make healthier choices in a place that should serve as a role model for healthy ...
Read MoreParent role models from the Chicago area are getting involved at schools to improve the health of their children, through the Healthy Schools Campaign (HSC). According to HSC parents United for Healthy Schools (PUHS)/ Padres Unidos para Escuelas Saludables is a Coalition of parents and community members who work to create healthy school environments for the city’s children, particularly those in low-income minority communities. In this video Karina, a mother and member of PUHS, talks about how PUHS gave her the tools she needed to become an active parent leader: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-ON9Ffl3Z0 In March of 2012, PUHS decided to form a school wellness team at the Greene Elementary School in Chicago to improve the heath of their children. The school hosted their first ...
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