2003: Passed Act 1220, House Bill 1583

Created a Child Health Advisory Committee that began meeting in September 2003, comprised of Department of Education, Department of Health appointees, plus Key Resources Group members. 

View meeting agendas, minutes and schedule online at http://www.healthyarkansas.com/advisory_committee/advisory.html

Fall 2003

Measured all of Arkansas’ 447,000 schoolkids’ BMIs to identify severely overweight kids and raise parents’ awareness that their kids’ lifestyles may need change.

This is the nation’s first comprehensive statewide effort to fight child obesity.  Reports are, it has upset some parents, fearing their kids will be teased.  Results appeared in Fall 2003 report cards.  Follow-up and educational materials will be sent to parents Spring 2004.

Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, 48, has been a strong advocate of healthier lifesyles. In 2003, he lost 50 pounds, prompted when a friend died of a heart attack; also, Huckabee was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.

He proposed incentivizing state employees to lose weight, citing it would save the state $460 million in annual healthcare costs due to obesity.