PRINTER'S NO. 2993
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
409
Session of
2024
INTRODUCED BY ROZZI, BURGOS, HILL-EVANS, KINSEY, M. MACKENZIE,
GIRAL, NEILSON, BRENNAN, SANCHEZ, SCHLOSSBERG, ISAACSON, KHAN
AND HOWARD, APRIL 25, 2024
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, APRIL 25, 2024
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of May 2024 as "Fitness Month" in
Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, According to the Department of Health (DOH), 33% of
all adults and 18% of children in this Commonwealth are affected
by obesity; and
WHEREAS, The DOH has found obesity to be a risk factor for
various health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes,
cardiovascular disease, obstructive sleep apnea, non-alcoholic
fatty liver disease, arthritis, infertility and many types of
cancer; and
WHEREAS, Further, the DOH notes the prevalence of obesity,
like many other serious and chronic diseases, is higher in
Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black adults and children than in non-
Hispanic White and non-Hispanic Asian individuals, with data
released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
on self-reported obesity rates in 2020 showing that 41.8% of
Black Pennsylvanians and 32.9% of Latino Pennsylvanians self-
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reported being obese that year; and
WHEREAS, Children and teens in the United States experienced,
on average, a doubling of their average body mass index between
2018 and 2020; and
WHEREAS, According to the current Physical Activity
Guidelines for Americans, every week adults need 150 minutes of
moderate-intensity physical activity and two days of muscle
strengthening, and children and adolescents need 60 minutes or
more of physical activity daily through a combination of
aerobic, muscle-strengthening and bone-strengthening activities;
and
WHEREAS, The CDC reported that only 24.2% of adults in the
United States 18 years of age and older met both aerobic and
muscle-strengthening activities guidelines established by the
2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans; and
WHEREAS, The 2022 United States Report Card on Physical
Activity for Children and Youth reported that only 21% of United
States children and youth between 6 and 17 years of age met the
recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvanians who participate in regular physical
activity reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and
metabolic syndrome, reduce the risk of serious outcomes from
infectious diseases, including COVID-19, the flu and pneumonia,
and lower the risk of developing several common cancers; and
WHEREAS, Physical activity has also been shown to benefit
brain health, weight management, bone and muscle strengthening
and the performance of everyday activities; and
WHEREAS, Exercise and recreational activities enhance
Pennsylvanians' mental health and overall sense of well-being;
and
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WHEREAS, All Pennsylvanians deserve access to physical
fitness, whether at their home, in the great outdoors or at a
local gym, health club, recreational facility or other fitness
venue; and
WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Fitness Alliance, which represents
this Commonwealth's fitness professionals, helps Pennsylvanians
maintain active and healthy lifestyles; and
WHEREAS, The President's Council on Fitness, Sports and
Nutrition created the initiative recognizing May as National
Physical Fitness and Sports Month and every President since 1983
has proclaimed May as National Physical Fitness and Sports
Month; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
month of May 2024 as "Fitness Month" in Pennsylvania.
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