Could obesity be a threat to our national security?

 Obesity threatens national security


By Johnnie E. Wilson

6:29 p.m. Monday, February 8, 2010

When first lady Michelle Obama launches her campaign to reduce child obesity today, many Americans will be cheering her on — including parents, teachers, doctors, business leaders ... and retired generals and admirals such as me. Generals and admirals?

Yes, child obesity has become so serious in this country that military leaders are viewing the epidemic as a potential threat to our national security.

Obesity, it turns out, is the No. 1 reason why applicants fail to qualify for military service, and it is posing serious health problems within the services. The issue is causing heartbreak among some military families that have always had a son or daughter in the service. Today, otherwise excellent recruit prospects, with generations of military service in their family history, are being turned away because they are just too heavy.

A recent report by Mission: Readiness, an organization made up of retired admirals and generals, found that an alarming 75 percent of all young people aged 17 to 24 are unable to join the military. Many young adults do not qualify because they failed to finish high school or have criminal records, but the No. 1 reason, our report found, is obesity.

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A Human Health Issue

Yesterday, the Oklahoman published an op-ed written by Dr. Janet Spradlin on why Oklahoma needs to go smoke free.

Read it here. http://www.newsok.com/article/3436602?searched=spradlin&custom_click=search

Parents Cut Kids' Calories When Menus are Labeled

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,583808,00.html

Michelle Obama asks mayors to help reduce obesity

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/20/AR2010012002989.html

First Lady Michelle Obama is tackling the issue of childhood obesity. The American Heart Association is working on a bill this year in Oklahoma that would create a definition of physical education in schools. Log on to http://www.yourethecure.org/ to sign up for alerts and voice your opinion.

Restaurant Owners are Starting to Support Smoke Free Oklahoma

http://www.okcfox.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/kokh_vid_994.shtml

Last night Fox 25 in Oklahoma City ran a story about the effort in Oklahoma to make our state 100% smoke free. The American Heart Association has been working with other health organizations across the state to push HB 2343 which would protect all Oklahoma workers from the dangers of secondhand smoke.

Federal judge upholds key provisions of FDA tobacco law

A federal judge in Kentucky this week upheld several provisions of a new law giving the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the power to regulate tobacco products. The court also upheld the authority of federal, state and local governments to impose additional regulations on tobacco products and marketing beyond those specified in the law. Find out more.

Help us improve PE in schools

During the next legislative session the American Heart Association will be supporting strong new requirements that will improve physical education in schools. With the growing childhood obesity epidemic we need to give our children the knowledge and skills necessary to live healthy lives.

We need your help to let lawmakers know this should be one of their top priorities. Sign up at http://www.yourethecure.org/ to sign up as an American Heart Association Advocate.

Improving PE requirements will give our children the foundation they need to learn about good nutrition and physical activity. Obesity is the second leading cause of heart disease and stroke. Efforts made now will help children avoid a lifetime of chronic disease and disability.

We will be supporting legislation that will:
• Increase the physical education requirement in our schools.
• Establish enforcement of the physical education requirement.
• Strengthen the definition of physical education in schools.

Please take a few seconds to click on the link above to take actsign up and become a You're the Cure adovcate. Or, if you're already signed up, go online and take action today to let your lawmakers know that you care about the health of our school children. With your help we will improve PE in Oklahoma schools and build a healthier future.