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1
AMENDMENT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 24

2    AMENDMENT NO. ___. Amend House Resolution 24 by replacing
3everything after the heading with the following:
 
4    "WHEREAS, Miss Illinois and Miss Quincy 2011, Megan Ervin,
5and Miss Quincy Outstanding Teen 2012, Mackenzie Mahsman, have
6sought to make the public and, in particular, Illinois school
7children and their parents more aware of the urgent need to
8choose and embrace daily physical activity and choose healthy
9food choices; and
 
10    WHEREAS, The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has
11reported that childhood obesity has practically become an
12epidemic in developed nations, with rates tripling over the
13last 30 years; and
 
14    WHEREAS, In the United States of America, approximately 20%
15of children between the ages of 6 and 11 are considered obese;

 

 

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1and
 
2    WHEREAS, Poor diet and little exercise are the two main
3causes of childhood obesity, as children who eat too many
4calories and get very little exercise are much more likely to
5become obese than those who eat a healthy diet and remain
6active; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Poor diet and little exercise can lead to heart
8problems, emotional distress, diabetes, and sleep
9disturbances, which all have terrible consequences for
10everyday life during childhood and into adulthood; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Limiting junk food, increasing activity levels to
12around 60 minutes a day, and teaching children about the
13benefits of healthy habits can all lay the foundation for a
14healthier lifestyle for each child; and
 
15    WHEREAS, The economic costs of childhood obesity can become
16drastic; the direct costs of medical visits, diagnostic
17studies, and therapeutic services can be very expensive, while
18indirect costs can include a decrease in productivity,
19absenteeism, and premature death; in 2008, estimates for direct
20and indirect costs related to childhood obesity reached up to
21$147 billion; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Miss Illinois and Miss Quincy 2011, Megan Ervin,
2and Miss Quincy Outstanding Teen 2012, Mackenzie Mahsman, have
3visited some of Illinois' schools to promote physical fitness
4in school as a way to enhance overall physical fitness, curb
5childhood obesity, and develop healthier, active, more
6confident children; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Illinois schools are mandated to provide Illinois
8school children with a physical education curriculum; this
9resolution is not intended to impact the public school
10curriculum in this regard or increase any requirements on
11Illinois schools, but merely to encourage other school children
12to consider voluntarily incorporating more physical activity
13and healthier food choices in their daily routines as a
14proactive measure to address the childhood obesity issues;
15therefore, be it
 
16    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
17NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
18we urge Illinois schoolchildren and their parents throughout
19the State of Illinois and Illinois teachers and school
20officials to promote daily physical activity for Illinois'
21schoolchildren so they will enjoy healthier, active lifestyles
22and urge parents and their children to embrace better
23nutritional choices to further build healthier lifestyles; and
24be it further
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
2presented to Megan Ervin and Mackenzie Mahsman as an expression
3of our gratitude and respect.".