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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 665
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WHEREAS, Across Texas, the inaugural observance of Every Kid |
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Healthy Week is taking place from April 24 through 28, 2017; and |
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WHEREAS, The Lone Star State is home to more than 7 million |
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residents under the age of 18, a segment that represents over 26 |
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percent of the total population; of those young people, nearly 20 |
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percent are considered obese, a condition that can lead to a host |
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of serious health issues, including heart disease, type 2 |
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diabetes, asthma, sleep difficulties, and low self-esteem; and |
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WHEREAS, At the national level, 75 percent of health care |
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expenditures go toward diagnosing and treating chronic |
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illnesses, many of which have been linked to obesity and physical |
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inactivity; moreover, the State of Texas annually spends nearly |
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$6,000 per capita on health care; and |
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WHEREAS, Regular physical activity can produce such |
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long-term benefits as greater cardiorespiratory and muscular |
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fitness, better bone health, reduced symptoms of depression, and |
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improved academic performance; the United States Department of |
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Health and Human Services recommends children and adolescents |
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participate in an hour or more of physical activity daily, |
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through a combination of aerobic and muscle-strengthening and |
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bone-strengthening activities, yet only about 27 percent of |
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young Texans meet those suggested levels; and |
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WHEREAS, In an effort to combat the rising levels of |
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childhood obesity, health clubs throughout the state have |
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created programs specifically designed to encourage families to |
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exercise and follow a healthy diet; in recent years, such |
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initiatives have spurred a dramatic increase in the number of |
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health club members under the age of 18; and |
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WHEREAS, Childhood obesity not only negatively affects our |
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young people's quality of life but also leads to higher health |
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care costs, and this weeklong campaign to raise awareness of this |
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issue serves as a valuable way of educating the public about a |
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critical health epidemic facing our state; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th |
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Legislature, hereby recognize April 24-28, 2017, as Every Kid |
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Healthy Week and encourage all Texans to meet the recommended |
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levels of physical activity each day. |
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Uresti |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on April 24, 2017. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |