Posted: | January 9, 2019 09:11 AM |
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From: | Representative Donna Bullock |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Designating January 20 through 26, 2019, as “Healthy Weight Week” and January 24, 2019, as “Women’s Healthy Weight Day” in Pennsylvania |
Current data indicates that obesity is on the rise nationwide and in Pennsylvania. As of 2017, nearly one third of all adults in Pennsylvania were considered obese. This represents a significant increase in the adult obesity rate. It is no secret that obesity puts individuals at risk for many of the leading causes of death, including heart disease and cancer. Further, estimates for obesity-related healthcare costs in the United States range from $147 billion to nearly $210 billion per year, and healthcare costs will only increase as the obesity rate rises. As many of you may know, Healthy Weight Week is recognized annually to celebrate healthy diet-free living habits and to prevent eating and weight-related problems. This week presents an opportunity to address rising rates of obesity by promoting healthy eating without adhering to fad diets, which are unsustainable long-term. Women’s Healthy Weight Day falls on Thursday during Healthy Weight Week and similarly focuses on optimizing women’s health by improving lifestyle choices such as eating healthy and being active. I offer this measure with the intent of promoting healthier lifestyles and curbing the alarming increase of obesity in Pennsylvania. Please join me in co-sponsoring this resolution. |
Introduced as HR36