One in Three Children in Michigan is Overweight or Obese

Nearly one in three children in Michigan is overweight or obese, enough to fill Ford Field to capacity seven times.  Obesity in Michigan children aged 6 to 11 has increased almost five-fold in the past 35 years and now threatens not only the health of many youngsters but the healthy future of our state.

Healthy Kids, Healthy Michigan--a statewide coalition dedicated to reducing childhood obesity, supports the passage of the H-1 substitute to House Bill 5196, which would establish a minimum requirement for physical education to grades K-8.  If the bill is passed, the measure would require students in grades K-5 to have at least 90 minutes of physical education class time each week for the entire school year.

Grades 6-8 would be required to have 45 minutes of physical education class time every school day for at least one semester.  These new requirements would make physical activity and education a priority, allowing students to learn more about how to lead healthy lives.