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1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, Childhood obesity has more than tripled in the 
3past 30 years; and
 
4    WHEREAS, The percentage of children ages 6-11 years in the 
5United States who were obese increased from 7% in 1980, to 20% 
6in 2008, and the percentage of adolescents ages 12-19 years who 
7were obese increased from 5% to 18% over the same period; and
 
8    WHEREAS, In 2008, over one-third of children and 
9adolescents were overweight or obese; and
 
10    WHEREAS, After the family, school is the primary 
11institution responsible for the development of young people in 
12the United States; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Schools have direct contact with more than 95% of 
14our nations young people ages 5-17 years, for about 6 hours a 
15day, and for up to 13 critical years of their social,

16psychological, physical, and intellectual development; and
  
 
17    WHEREAS, The health of young people is strongly linked to 
18their academic success; helping students stay healthy is a 
19fundamental mission of schools; and
  
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois currently has a blue ribbon 
2panel that is reviewing ways to enhance physical fitness 
3programs in our Illinois schools; therefore, be it
  
 
4    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE

5NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE

6SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we urge the Governor to suggest 
7that one week of each school year be used to emphasize the 
8importance of physical fitness in schools in the State of 
9Illinois; and be it further
  
 
10    RESOLVED, That we encourage the administration to request 
11schools in Illinois during this week select a health related 
12subject to be discussed in class for each day a week of 
13awareness; and be it further
  
 
14    RESOLVED, That we further encourage the administration to 
15suggest some topics, but not limited to the following for 
16discussion during the fitness awareness week:  nutrition and 
17dietary behavior, physical activity protocol(s), tobacco-use 
18prevention, alcohol, or drug use prevention, review of cardio 
19protocols, review of eating disorders, and a review of physical 
20activity facts; and be it further
  
 
21    RESOLVED, That we further encourage the administration to 
22suggest the promotion of an
"fitness action day" whereby 
 
 
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1schools can find a way to encourage a healthy life style 
2through the promotion of an activity; and be it further
  
 
3    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
4delivered to Governor Pat Quinn, Illinois Congressman Rodney 
5Davis, Illinois Senator William Haine, and the Illinois 
6Superintendent of Schools.