SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 35
(By Senators Prezioso, Hunter, Sharpe, Unger, Foster, Boley,
Dempsey, Jenkins and Barnes)
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance direct the
Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources
Accountability study the obesity epidemic in West Virginia by
monitoring ongoing state activities to curtail obesity.
Whereas, The United States experienced unprecedented increases
in obesity in the last decade. In 1991, no state had an obesity
rate of 20 percent or higher but by 2000, 22 states reported
obesity rates of 20 percent or higher. These increases include all
ages, racial and ethnic groups and both genders; and
Whereas, West Virginia ranks first among all states in
obesity. About one third of all adults in West Virginia are
overweight and one in four are obese; and
Whereas, Forty percent of children in West Virginia are either
overweight or obese and this prevalence has nearly tripled in the
past two decades; and
Whereas, Obesity is associated with increased mortality and
risk for a number of disorders, including cardiovascular disease,
hypertension, stroke, Type II diabetes, osteoarthritis and certain
cancers; and
Whereas, Obesity has a significantly greater effect on the number of chronic conditions than the effects of current or past
smoking or problem drinking; and
Whereas, A study by Obesity Research shows the estimated adult
obesity-attributable medical expenditures in West Virginia are $588
million for the total population, $140 million for the Medicare
population and $187 million for the Medicaid population; and
Whereas, According to the United States Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, if this trend is not reversed,
obesity-related health problems and associated costs will soon
surpass those associated with tobacco; and
Whereas, Research indicates that strong, healthy bodies
promote learning and enhance mental and emotional health, social
development, self-esteem and overall fitness and that combining
physical activity with an academic curriculum results in an overall
increase in academic performance among school-age children; and
Whereas, Childhood detection and treatment of obesity, as well
as an emphasis on physical and nutritional education, provide an
opportunity for the development of lifelong health and fitness
skills and proper eating habits; and
Whereas, Obesity is a preventable and treatable disease that
has reached epidemic proportions. Education, prevention and proper
treatment can reduce health care costs and improve the quality of
life for a significant number of adults and children in West
Virginia; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby
requested to direct the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health
and Human Resources Accountability study the obesity epidemic in
West Virginia by monitoring ongoing state activities to curtail
obesity; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance urges the Governor, the Legislature, the Department of
Health and Human Resources, the Public Employees Insurance Agency,
the Department of Education and other state agencies and
institutions to make prevention and treatment of obesity a priority
and to work in conjunction with the Legislative Oversight
Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability to reduce
obesity and improve the health and wellness of the residents of
West Virginia through the following measures:
(1) Working collaboratively with federal agencies, such as the
United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other
states to promote guidelines and best practices in the prevention
and treatment of obesity;
(2) Educating the medical community, teachers and school
administrators, employers and the general public about the scope of
the problem and ways to prevent and treat obesity in adults and
children;
(3) Providing incentives and promoting the availability of
obesity-related treatment in the state Medicaid program, PEIA and
other state-funded insurance programs;
(4) Identifying and implementing strategies to increase the
amount of daily quality physical activity and nutrition education
in the curriculum of public schools; and
(5) Providing incentives for workplace initiatives to combat
obesity and encourage physical activity; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance is hereby requested to study potential policies and
legislation to encourage people to change their lifestyles which
would result in dramatic changes in outcome measures on obesity
within five years; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2006, on
its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts
of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this
study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be
paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on
Government and Finance.
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