HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

16

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

  

STATE OF HAWAII

  
   

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

Requesting the Governor to establish the Physical activity and nutrition coalition task force to develop a state plan to combat obesity in hawaii.

WHEREAS, obesity is considered to be the major health issue of the twenty-first century, with an estimated two-thirds of the adult population in the United States self-reporting being overweight (approximately sixty-five per cent), and almost one-third obese (approximately thirty-one per cent); and

WHEREAS, based upon the body mass index, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than forty-four million Americans were considered obese in 2001, an increase of seventy-four per cent in ten years; and

WHEREAS, obesity is rapidly becoming a worldwide health problem, with the World Health Organization and the International Obesity Task Force confirming increasing rates of obesity, even as some developing countries struggle with undernourishment or famine; and

WHEREAS, people who are overweight or obese are at risk for numerous health conditions including type two diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, dyslipidemia, some specific cancers, gallstones, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, premature death, sleep apnea, and respiratory problems, as well as poorer physical functioning status and lower life expectancy; and the rise in obesity so dramatically coincides with an increased prevalence of diabetes that obesity and diabetes have been called "twin epidemics"; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii spends roughly $290,000,000 (approximately five per cent) of its total medical expenditures on obesity-related medical conditions; and

WHEREAS, the United States spent an estimated $75,000,000,000 in 2003 on obesity-related medical costs, with more than half of the costs paid by taxpayers through Medicare and Medicaid programs, which cover health conditions caused by obesity such as type two diabetes, cardiovascular disease, several types of cancer, and gall bladder disease; and

WHEREAS, according to the 2002 behavioral risk factor surveillance survey, which provides some of the best estimates of the prevalence of obesity, all ethnic groups in Hawaii had more than one-third reporting being overweight, and of ethnic groups in Hawaii, native Hawaiians reported the highest proportions (approximately thirty-eight per cent), followed by "others" (approximately twenty per cent), and Caucasian (approximately seventeen per cent); and

WHEREAS, obesity in childhood, particularly adolescence, is a predictor for obesity in adulthood, and certain health related behaviors established in youth -- unhealthy eating and inadequate physical activity -- contribute to adult obesity and related health conditions; and

WHEREAS, the number of overweight children in the United States has doubled in the past thirty years, with similar patterns occurring in Hawaii, and with some communities and populations in Hawaii having childhood obesity rates twice the national average for children age six to eleven years old; and

WHEREAS, research of Hawaii's populations shows that the vast majority of people are not getting enough physical activity or the recommended servings of fruits or vegetables each day; and

WHEREAS, increasing physical activity and developing habits of proper nutrition are considered effective methods for curbing rates of obesity, yet Hawaii does not yet have a plan to put such strategies into place; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2005, the Senate concurring, that the Governor is requested to establish the Physical Activity and Nutrition Coalition Task Force for the State to develop a statewide plan to combat rising rates of obesity; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor is requested to appoint members to the task force from lists of nominees submitted by:

(1) The Director of Health as follows:

(A) Two representatives from the Department of Health;

(B) One representative from the Academy of Pediatrics Hawaii Chapter;

(C) One registered dietician;

(D) One practicing pediatrician;

(E) One representative from the University of Hawaii School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics;

(F) One representative from the American Heart Association;

(G) One representative from a native Hawaiian health organization;

(H) One representative from the health insurance industry; and

(I) One representative from the Childhood Obesity Task Force; and

(2) The Superintendent of Education as follows:

(A) One representative from the Department of Education;

(B) One member of the Board of Education;

(C) One representative of Kamehameha Schools;

(D) One member to represent jointly the University of Hawaii Department of Kinesiology and Leisure Science and the University of Hawaii Department of Sports Medicine;

(E) One representative from the Hawaii Parent Teacher Association; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor is requested to appoint the following coalition members:

(1) One representative from the Department of Transportation;

(2) One representative from a county agency having primary responsibility for parks and recreation;

(3) One media representative; and

(4) Two members at-large; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor is requested to ensure, insofar as possible, that the appointees to the task force include fair representation of the neighbor islands and reflect the composition of the population of Hawaii with regard to ethnicity, race, gender, age, and religion, and if a vacancy occurs, the Governor is requested to appoint a person who represents the same constituency as the representative being replaced; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to elect one of its members to serve as Chairperson for a one-year term, meet at least monthly or more frequently at the discretion of the Chairperson, and establish quorum for the transaction of its business; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chairperson of the task force be authorized to establish committees for the purpose of information gathering pursuant to the task force's duties and may appoint non-task force members from any state or county executive agency, health and community associations and organizations, or related entities to serve on each committee as resource persons, with resource persons being voting members of the committees; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that it is requested that the primary tasks of the task force should include, but not be limited to the following:

(1) Developing a state nutrition and physical activity plan, including systems to ensure implementation, and a pediatric obesity component;

(2) Developing physical activity and nutrition standards;

(3) Promoting consistent messages for physical activity and nutrition through and among the coalition members;

(4) Monitoring and evaluating results and reporting on outcomes; and

5) Providing policy recommendations; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, beginning in 2006, the task force is requested to submit an annual report to the Legislature and the Governor, which shall address the following:

(1) Progress made by the coalition in developing the state physical activity and nutrition plan;

(2) Proposed physical activity and nutrition standards;

(3) Policy recommendations; and

(4) Recommended strategies or actions to reduce the prevalence of pediatric and adult obesity and burdens suffered from obesity among citizens in the State; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force cease to exist on June 30, 2010; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Superintendent of Education and the Chair of the Board of Education, and the Director of Health.

 

 
 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Physical Activity and Nutrition Coalition Task Force