Bill Text: NY J01567 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim April 22-26, 2024, as Every Kid Healthy Week in the State of New York

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2024-04-16 - ADOPTED [J01567 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-J01567-Introduced.html

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Senate Resolution No. 1567

BY: Senator PERSAUD

        MEMORIALIZING  Governor  Kathy  Hochul to proclaim
        April 22-26, 2024, as Every Kid Healthy Week in  the
        State of New York

  WHEREAS,  The  citizens  of  the  State of New York are committed to
ensuring the safety and well-being of our most  precious  resource,  our
children,  and  to protecting them, in every facet of their daily lives;
and

  WHEREAS, This  Legislative  Body  is  justly  proud  to  memorialize
Governor  Kathy  Hochul  to  proclaim  April  22-26,  2024, as Every Kid
Healthy Week  in  the  State  of  New  York,  in  conjunction  with  the
observance of National Every Kid Health Week; and

  WHEREAS,  New  York's future relies upon its youth; more than 22% of
New York's population, or 4.3 million residents, are under 18  years  of
age; and

  WHEREAS, Over 14.5% of New York's children are considered obese; and

  WHEREAS,  Action  For Healthy Kids (AFHK) is a nationwide grassroots
network mobilizing school professionals,  families  and  communities  to
take  actions that lead to improvements in school-based foods, nutrition
education, physical activity and education, all of which have been shown
to improve student health, learning and academic performance; and

  WHEREAS, Launched by AFHK in 2013, Every  Kid  Healthy  Week  is  an
annual  observance  designed  to celebrate school wellness achievements,
and shine a spotlight on the  epidemic  of  childhood  obesity  and  the
connection  between  healthy  eating,  physical  activity  and  academic
success; and

  WHEREAS,  The  prevalence  of  children  in  New   York   considered
overweight or obese has increased since 2003; and

  WHEREAS,  Being  overweight  as  a child increases the risk of being
obese as a young adult; and

  WHEREAS, Childhood obesity is a major health  epidemic  facing  this
State,  and  these health concerns lead to higher health care costs that
negatively impact New York's taxpayers; and

  WHEREAS, Being overweight as a child  can  lead  to  serious  health
problems,  such  as  heart  disease,  Type  2  diabetes,  asthma,  sleep
problems, low self-esteem and being bullied; and

  WHEREAS, Regular physical  activity  can  produce  long-term  health
benefits; and

  WHEREAS, The number of health club members who are under 18 years of
age has increased 39% in New York, and 60% nationally; and

  WHEREAS, According to the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans
report  issued  by  the  United  States  Department  of Health and Human
Services, children and adolescents benefit from 60 minutes  or  more  of
physical  activity  daily  through  a  combination  of  aerobic,  muscle
strengthening, and bone strengthening activities; and

  WHEREAS,  Health  benefits  for  children and adolescents associated
with regular physical activity include  improved  cardiorespiratory  and
muscular  fitness,  improved  bone  health,  favorable body composition,
reduced symptoms of depression and improved academic performance; and

  WHEREAS, Obesity and physical  inactivity  are  directly  linked  to
increasing public and private health care costs; and

  WHEREAS,  Nationally,  75% of health care expenditures go toward the
diagnosing and treatment of chronic diseases, many of  which  have  been
linked to obesity and physical inactivity; and

  WHEREAS,  New  York State has some of the highest health care costs,
ranking 7th out of 51 in health care spending per capita; and

  WHEREAS, Only 23% of New York's youth  meet  recommended  levels  of
aerobic and muscle strengthening physical activity; and

  WHEREAS,  In  response  to  the  health challenges facing New York's
adolescents, many health clubs  in  this  State  have  created  programs
targeting  children  and  adolescents  and  have also developed specific
programs for families to exercise and live healthier lives together; and

  WHEREAS, Parents are a positive influence in helping their  children
eat healthier food and become more physically active; and

  WHEREAS, Promoting healthy behavior promotes a healthy population in
general,  reduces  health  care  costs and provides a healthier and more
productive work force; and

  WHEREAS, In order to improve  the  quality  of  life  for  many  New
Yorkers  and  to prevent an increased burden on its taxpayers, the State
needs to develop a coordinated approach to  addressing  the  problem  of
childhood obesity; and

  WHEREAS,  Everyone  in  the  country  can  get involved in Every Kid
Healthy Week  and  be  a  part  of  the  solution  by  supporting  sound
nutrition,  regular  physical  activity and health-promoting programs at
their schools; and

  WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative  Body  to  promote  the
coordination   of  activities  to  support  physical  activity,  and  to
encourage all New Yorkers to adopt a healthy lifestyle; now,  therefore,
be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to  proclaim  April  22-26,  2024,  as
Every Kid Healthy Week in the State of New York; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of  New
York.