Today on Capitol Hill, U.S. Reps. Ron Kind, Mary Bono Mack, Earl Blumenauer and Marcia L. Fudge came together to introduce the "Healthy Choices Act," a comprehensive bill to address childhood obesity.

The American Beverage Association supports the bill, which not only addresses school nutrition and compliments our industry's School Beverage Guidelines, but provides for physical education in schools, nutrition education and improved access for physical activity in communities across the nation.  Measures such as these take on the challenge of obesity from both sides - addressing both sides of the energy balance equation.

It's refreshing to see legislation introduced that attempts to tackle the complex problem of obesity in a holistic way.  Healthy communities, where children are taught how to eat right and and get exercise, are a great start.  As Rep. Kind wrote in a recent editorial, "We all know obesity is a concern in every community across our nation.  But by working together with a concerted, strategic policy, we can take better care of ourselves, confront this epidemic, and realize a decline in our healthcare costs."

Today on Capitol Hill, U.S. Reps. Ron Kind, Mary Bono Mack, Earl Blumenauer and Marcia L. Fudge came together to introduce the “Healthy Choices Act,” a comprehensive bill to address childhood obesity.

The American Beverage Association supports the bill, which not only addresses school nutrition and compliments our industry’s School Beverage Guidelines, but provides for physical education in schools, nutrition education and improved access for physical activity in communities across the nation. Measures such as these take on the challenge of obesity from both sides – addressing both sides of the energy balance equation.

It’s refreshing to see legislation introduced that attempts to tackle the complex problem of obesity in a holistic way. Healthy communities, where children are taught how to eat right and and get exercise, are a great start. As Rep. Kind wrote in a recent editorial, “We all know obesity is a concern in every community across our nation. But by working together with a concerted, strategic policy, we can take better care of ourselves, confront this epidemic, and realize a decline in our healthcare costs.”