SJR61: Joint Resolution Text

LRB-0284/1

CMH:kjf

2017 - 2018 LEGISLATURE

2017 Senate JOINT RESOLUTION 61

June 23, 2017 - Introduced by Senators L. Taylor and Vinehout, cosponsored by Representatives Horlacher, Hintz, Pope, Spreitzer, Subeck, C. Taylor, Zepnick, Anderson, Bowen, Petryk and Fields. Referred to Committee on Senate Organization.

SJR61,1,1 Relating to: proclaiming September 2017 as Childhood Obesity Awareness Month.

SJR61,1,4 Whereas, obesity has seen a dramatic increase in the United States from 1990 through 2010, and is a serious health risk that we need to take action against today; and

SJR61,1,6 Whereas, more than one-third of adults in the United States are obese, which equals 78.6 million Americans; and

SJR61,1,8 Whereas, in 2015, 30.7 percent of adults in Wisconsin were considered obese, making us the 19th most obese state in the nation; and

SJR61,1,11 Whereas, obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer, which are some of the leading causes of preventable death; and

SJR61,1,15 Whereas, not only are these conditions dangerous, they are also costly, with an estimated annual medical cost of obesity in the United States of about $147 billion in 2008, and with the medical costs of those who are obese approximately $1,429 higher than those of normal weight; and

SJR61,2,3 Whereas, in 2012, in Wisconsin there were 470,136 cases of diabetes, 1,130,359 cases of hypertension, 347,847 cases of heart disease, 1,124,133 cases of arthritis, and 89,046 cases of obesity-related cancer; and

SJR61,2,5 Whereas, although these numbers are shocking and dramatic, they also give a glimpse at the true havoc obesity can cause on men's and women's bodies; and

SJR61,2,8 Whereas, one of the first steps in reducing our nation's obesity crisis is educating children about the risks of obesity and leading them toward a healthy lifestyle; and

SJR61,2,12 Whereas, it is important to educate our citizens about obesity-prevention and control programs, so as to ensure that they are eating healthy and spending time getting active and getting their heart rate up, which are two surefire ways to control and prevent obesity among youths and adults; and

SJR61,2,14 Whereas, we must do all that we can to ensure that the rate of obesity starts to decline in order to prevent health risks; now, therefore, be it

SJR61,2,17 Resolved by the senate, the assembly concurring, That the legislature hereby proclaims September 2017 as Childhood Obesity Awareness Month in Wisconsin.

SJR61,2,18 (End)