Childhood Obesity

WE'RE IN THE NEWS: ANALYSIS: HOW SOFT DRINK LOBBY'S VICTORY IN WA MATTERS TO NATIONAL SODA TAX DEBATE

MariaM — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 12:56:44 -0400

The Olympia Newswire continues its coverage of a proposed Washington state soda tax with an analysis of how efforts in this state join initiatives in other states and cities around the country to tax sugar-sweetened beverages.

WE'RE IN THE NEWS: OFF THE TABLE? HOW THE SODA INDUSTRY MADE SURE IT WASN'T TAXED

MariaM — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:30:31 -0400

A proposal enacting a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages to restore funding for health and dental services draws support from some advocates, including the Children's Alliance, and criticism from the soda industry. Olympia Newswire reviews the history of soda industry tax exemptions and how current lobbying efforts may remove the proposal from the table.

‘Please, tax my candy, tax my soda … whatever it takes’

LizG — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:34:55 -0500

In this minute-long audio slideshow aimed at our state’s lawmakers, Seattle high schooler Daniel Perlmutter makes a common-sense plea for taxing candy and soda to pay for kids' health care. It’s simple, he says.

“Candy … it’s fun, but it’s not food. Yet our tax laws treat candy like bananas, bread and milk. That’s preposterous!”

WE'RE IN THE NEWS: TAXING SUGARY SNACKS & DRINKS WOULD BE GOOD FOR CHILDREN'S HEALTH

MariaM — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 11:15:41 -0500

As the Washington Legislature debates enacting a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, three guests columnists in health care professions make their case for supporting a tax that would both save taxpayers money, reduce childhood obesity, and provide basic health care, nutrition and health-related educational programs.

Benjamin Danielson, M.D., vice president of the Children's Alliance board, David Fleming, M.D., director and health officer of Public
Health-Seattle & King County, and Lenna L. Liu, M.D., pediatrician at Seattle Children's Hospital write:

House is smart to tax candy; soda should be next

LizG — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:41:03 -0500

The House has made the right move by proposing a tax on candy and gum. Our state loses out on more than $40 million in revenue every year because these sweets are exempt from state sales tax.

First Lady unveils childhood obesity initiative

MariaM — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:31:26 -0500

First Lady Michelle Obama unveiled a plan to combat the growing problem of childhood obesity today, calling on communities across the country to renew their commitments to helping kids develop healthy eating and exercise habits.

Half of US kids on food stamps

siobhan — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:31:01 -0500

Half of US kids will be on food stamps during their childhood, according to a new report by Washington University in St. Louis. That’s half the kids on the school bus, half the kids at the park, half the kids out trick or treating last weekend. And in some communities that experience a higher burden of poverty, the numbers are far higher. 90% of African American kids will be on food stamps at some point during childhood.

"This is a real danger sign that we as a society need to do a lot more to protect children," states lead author of the study, Pr

Are school policies making kids healthier?

Carolynm — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:26:53 -0400

Results of the latest research on how well school wellness policies are doing at reducing childhood obesity are mixed. Nearly one-third of U.S. children are overweight or obese, and that figure shows no signs of declining. A new Robert Woods Johnson Foundation report has found that most schools have developed policies for improving students’ nutrition and increasing the amount of exercise children get at school, as called for by the 2004 Child Nutrition Act. But many of these policies are weak, full of shoulds, mays, and will try tos, and devoid of enforcement mechanisms.

Blog: Will lawmakers halt progress on student health?

Carolynm — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:44:36 -0400

The state just released its biennial Healthy Youth Survey, which gathers anonymous responses from middle and high school students around the state on a number of health-related topics.

The survey results show some great progress on nutrition, but the improvements could come to a halt if the state moves forward with a bill to eliminate nutrition and physical exercise goals in the schools.

Why donate? 238 kids, every day.

mjennings — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 18:59:09 -0500

Why give to the Children's Alliance during the Leadership Campaign?

All of us are living in a time of economic uncertainty. For that very reason it is a vital time to make a donation to the Children's Alliance.

You can give whatever amount is affordable to you. We just ask that you consider the extraordinary times we are in, and how much is at stake for Washington's kids.

Donate now, and you are protecting kids when they need you most.