H.J.R. 11 Enrolled

RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING SCHOOLS TO
ADOPT NUTRITION AND PHYSICAL
ACTIVITY POLICIES
2005 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Patricia W. Jones
Senate Sponsor: Patrice M. Arent

LONG TITLE
General Description:
This joint resolution of the Legislature urges the development of wellness policies to
reduce obesity in children and adolescents.
Highlighted Provisions:
This resolution:
. urges that schools, school districts, health care providers, community-based
organizations, businesses, and families work to establish comprehensive wellness
policies to help prevent and reduce the prevalence of overweight children and
adolescents.
Special Clauses:
None

Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
WHEREAS, Action for Healthy Kids is a nationwide initiative dedicated to improving
the health and educational performances of children through better nutrition and physical
activity in schools;
WHEREAS, this effort represents a response to the nation's epidemic of overweight,
sedentary, and undernourished children and adolescents;
WHEREAS, the Utah Action for Healthy Kids has 11 local working partners who meet
monthly to plan ways to improve nutrition and physical activity in Utah schools;

WHEREAS, since 1980 the percentage of young people who are overweight has doubled,
putting them at a greater risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer;
WHEREAS, according to the Surgeon General, only half of adolescents regularly
participate in vigorous physical activity and 25% report no physical activity;
WHEREAS, one in every four Utah students from kindergarten to eighth grade is
overweight or at risk of becoming overweight and there are enough overweight or at risk children
in Utah to fill 124 elementary schools or 2,067 classrooms;
WHEREAS, studies have shown that physically active students have more positive self
esteem and lower levels of depression;
WHEREAS, good health and nourishment also enhance performance on cognitive testing,
and improved test scores are a result of participation in the school breakfast program;
WHEREAS, the 2004 reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Program states that each
school district participating in the National School Lunch Program shall establish a local
wellness policy by 2006;
WHEREAS, school-based efforts present a unique opportunity to provide children with
the skills and support they need to adopt healthy, lifelong behaviors;
WHEREAS, there is also an opportunity to engage students, school faculty, families, and
communities in promoting healthy eating and regular physical activity;
WHEREAS, Action for Healthy Kids recognizes the importance of wellness policies and
has developed policy and program guidelines to assist schools and school districts as they create
and evaluate their wellness policies; and
WHEREAS, it is critical that physical activity requirements, standards, and programs in
schools are strengthened, school and community partnerships that promote good nutrition are
fostered, and nutrition policies and physical education programs are established:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah urges
that school community councils, school districts, health care providers, community-based
organizations, businesses, and families work to establish comprehensive wellness policies to help
prevent and reduce the prevalence of overweight children and adolescents.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Utah State
Office of Education, the Utah Parent-Teachers Association, the Utah Chamber of Commerce, and
the Utah Medical Association.