07 LC 36
0717
Senate
Resolution 517
By:
Senators Thomas of the 54th and Henson of the 41st
A
RESOLUTION
Creating
a Senate Study Committee on Childhood Obesity in Georgia; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS,
there is concern over the increasing incidence of childhood obesity, the rate of
illness connected with this problem, and the resulting impact on the health of
the children of Georgia; and
WHEREAS,
the obesity prevalence in the United States among children six to 19 years old
more than tripled between 1980 and 2003; and
WHEREAS,
in Georgia, the prevalence is staggering, with 27 percent of two to five year
old children, 33 percent of middle school age children, and 26 percent of high
school students overweight or at risk for being overweight, and the severity of
overweight children in this state is two times higher than the current national
average; and
WHEREAS,
overweight children and adolescents are more likely to become obese as adults,
as shown in one study which found that approximately 80 percent of overweight
children between the ages of 10 and 15 were obese adults at age 25;
and
WHEREAS,
overweight children are at risk for health problems during their youth and into
adulthood, and they are more likely to have risk factors associated with
cardiovascular disease such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2
diabetes than are other children and adolescents; and
WHEREAS,
type 2 diabetes, formerly known as "adult-onset diabetes" and now classified as
an epidemic in American children, continues to rise in Georgia, and overweight
children are also at increased risk for hypertension, asthma, sleep apnea, and
low self-esteem; and
WHEREAS,
many experts agree that obesity in childhood may affect academic performance,
with one study suggesting that overweight children have significantly lower math
and reading test scores compared to nonoverweight children in kindergarten;
and
WHEREAS,
the medical costs associated with obesity from childhood to adulthood in Georgia
is nearly $2.1 billion per year due to costs associated with diagnostic and
treatment services, lost wages, and reduced productivity due to illness,
disability, and premature death; and
WHEREAS,
due to the epidemic of childhood obesity, many experts believe this may be the
first generation of children who will not outlive their parents.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that there is created a Senate Study
Committee on Childhood Obesity in Georgia to be composed of three members of the
Senate appointed by the President of the Senate. The President of the Senate
shall designate a member of the committee as chairperson of the committee. The
chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall undertake a study of the
conditions, needs, issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and
recommend any action or legislation which the committee deems necessary or
appropriate. The committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such
times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and
effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and
purposes of this resolution. The members of the committee shall receive the
allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated. The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received
by any member of the committee for more than five days unless additional days
are authorized. The funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this
resolution shall come from the funds appropriated to the Senate. In the event
the committee makes a report of its findings and recommendations, with
suggestions for proposed legislation, if any, such report shall be made on or
before December 15, 2007. The committee shall stand abolished on December 15,
2007.