Nearly 40% of public school children tested are unfit, and 25% are overweight. An Epidemic: Overweight and Unfit Children in California Assembly Districts

In December 2002, a landmark study on the health of California children was released. Two key indicators of health (fitness and body weight) had been analyzed in 5th, 7th and 9th graders.

Based on its study, the California Center for Public Health recommended the Legislature and Governor “take immediate, aggressive steps to stem the tide of this epidemic”:

	A state law mandating physical education be enforced
	State Bill 19 nutrition standards be implemented in all schools (K-12)
	Legislative hearings be held to study the impact advertising to children has on the epidemic

To help inform the public and lawmakers, the results (rates of overweight/poor fitness) of this landmark study are available on the Center’s Web site by California Senate and Assembly districts @  publichealthadvocacy.org/policy_briefs/overweight_and_unfit.html

September 16, 2003: Governor Gray Davis signed S.B. 677 (Ortiz) into law, ensuring that only healthy beverages are sold on elementary, middle and junior high school campuses beginning July 1, 2004 - seen as an expansion on the success of S.B. 19 (2001-Escutia) addressing the child obesity epidemic.

For complete S.B. 677 nutrition standards, see publichealthadvocacy.org/legislation/legislation_2003.html

August 27, 2002: The Los Angeles Unified School District voted to ban the sale of carbonated beverages on all school campuses beginning Jan. 1, 2004: “The Healthy Beverage Resolution.”