House Subcommittee Holds Childhood Obesity Hearing

The House Education and Labor Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities held a hearing on national strategies to fight childhood obesity yesterday. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), chairwoman of the subcommittee, called witnesses to discuss research on the state of wellness policies and nutrition standards for non-lunchroom foods available in schools (like food in vending machines), challenges to implementation of school wellness policies, and the importance of physical education and fitness for America's youth. Although witnesses and committee members referred to H.R. 1363, the Child Nutrition Promotion and School Lunch Protection Act, the hearing focused more on basic ideas and proposals, as opposed to specific legislative language.


Witnesses at the hearing included:
• Rep. Lynn C. Woolsey (D-CA), who sponsored H.R. 1363;
• Chevy Chase, an actor/writer who co-founded the Center for Environmental Education Online;
• James S. Marks, M.D., M.P.H., the Senior Vice President and Director at Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Group in Princeton, New Jersey;
• Virginia A. Stallings, M.D., director of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Nutrition Center and chair of the Committee on Nutrition Standards for Foods in Schools;
• Chandler Converse, a high school student in Marietta, Georgia;
• Ms. Nora L. Howley, Interim Executive Director at Action for Healthy Kids in Maryland; and
• Dr. Phil Lawler, Director for Outreach and Training at PE4Life in Kansas City, Missouri.
Rep. Woolsey testified that Congress should base rules regulating nutrition in schools on common sense reform. She made it a point to discuss her bill, which amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to require the Secretary of Agriculture to revise the definition of "food of minimal nutritional value." As a condition for federal funding of school lunch and breakfast programs, the sale of “food of minimal nutritional value” is prohibited in areas where school meals are sold or eaten. The revised definition would apply to all food sold anywhere on school campuses (not just where school meals are sold or eaten) at any time of the day, with the possible limited exemption of food sold at school fundraisers.
Mr. Chase framed the argument in terms of investing in children’s health. He pointed out that since the government “invests huge amounts of money - $10 billion in fiscal year 2006 alone - in school lunches and breakfasts, selling chips, candy, and sugary drinks in schools undermines that taxpayer investment.”
All the panelists agreed that regulating the nutritional content of all food sold in public schools is necessary, and that there is also support for increasing nutrition education in public schools. One panelist pointed out that prohibition, in and of itself, will not solve the problem. Instead, prohibiting certain foods and drinks must go hand in hand with educating students about nutrition and healthy living. Panelists agreed that parental involvement is underutilized. While members of the Committee agreed that getting parents involved is necessary, Chairwoman McCarthy made a point to note that Congress cannot mandate parental involvement.
Author: SAS