ENROLLED
2021 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 120
BY REPRESENTATIVE BAGLEY
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To recognize Monday, June 7, 2021, as Louisiana Childhood Obesity Awareness Day at the
state capitol and to commend medical professionals for their efforts to prevent and
combat childhood obesity in Louisiana.
WHEREAS, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines obesity as
a body mass index, or BMI, at or above the 95th percentile for children and teens of the same
age and sex; and
WHEREAS, more than twenty percent of Louisiana children between ten and
seventeen years old suffer with obesity, thus making Louisiana the sixth highest ranking
state in the country in terms of childhood obesity; and
WHEREAS, children who are obese are seventy percent more likely to be obese as
adults; and
WHEREAS, children with obesity are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes,
hypertension, high cholesterol, asthma, and fatty liver disease and are more prone to
experience anxiety, depression, bullying, low self-esteem, and weight stigma during
childhood, all of which extracts high physical and monetary tolls among Louisianians and
Americans; and
WHEREAS, genetics, poor nutrition, food insecurity, community design and safety,
adverse childhood events, poor sleep, and low levels of physical activity are major
contributors to childhood obesity; and
WHEREAS, in Louisiana, pediatricians and research scientists recognize the health
threats inherent in obesity and work collaboratively to improve the health and future of
children in the state; and
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WHEREAS, these collaborations have given participants a greater understanding of
the complexities of obesity, and have enabled them to identify the connection between
obesity and diabetes and other chronic diseases that afflict a disproportionate share of
children in Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, an improved understanding of obesity and its negative impact on a
growing number of Louisiana's children is informing statewide outreach initiatives to combat
Louisiana's childhood obesity epidemic; and
WHEREAS, the Legislature of Louisiana recognizes that Louisiana's children are the
state's most valuable resource; and
WHEREAS, similarly, the Legislature of Louisiana recognizes the dedicated
physicians and research scientists who are working to curtail and eliminate childhood obesity
in Louisiana.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
recognize Monday, June 7, 2021, as Louisiana Childhood Obesity Awareness Day at the
state capitol, and hereby commends the cadre of medical professionals who provide
healthcare, conduct research, and implement important outreach programs across Louisiana
to prevent and reduce obesity among children in the state.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the
executive director of the Louisiana chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and to
the executive director of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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