Sponsored by:
Assemblyman BENJIE E. WIMBERLY
District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblywoman VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
SYNOPSIS
Designates the month of September as “National Obesity Awareness Month” in New Jersey.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution designating the month of September as “National Obesity Awareness Month” in New Jersey.
Whereas, Obesity is a national epidemic; more than one-third (36.5 percent) of adults in the United States are medically defined as obese; and
Whereas, The epidemic of obesity results in detrimental effects on the health and economic well-being of individuals and on the society as a whole; and
Whereas, Obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer which are some of the leading causes of preventable death; and
Whereas, In 2008, the estimated annual medical cost of obesity in the United States was $147 billion and the medical costs for people who are obese were $1,429 higher than for people of normal weight; and
Whereas, New Jersey's adult obesity rate is currently 25.6 percent, which is 39th in the nation, according to “The State of Obesity: Better Policies for a Healthier America” released in September 2016; and
Whereas, The number of adults in New Jersey who are obese has increased dramatically in the last twenty-two years. The current rate of 25.6 percent is up from 17.0 percent in 2000 and from 12.3 percent in 1995; and
Whereas, If the prevalence of obesity continues to increase at the current pace, nearly half (48.6 percent) of New Jersey adults will be obese in 2030; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The month of September is designated as “National Obesity Awareness Month” in the State of New Jersey to create awareness of the epidemic of obesity and the devastating effects of obesity on people’s lives, and to encourage healthy living habits which decrease obesity in New Jersey and in the nation.
2. The Governor is requested to annually issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and citizens of this State to observe “National Obesity Awareness Month” with appropriate activities and programs.
3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This joint resolution
designates the month of September of each
year as “National Obesity Awareness Month” in New Jersey to promote awareness
of the problems associated with obesity and encourage healthy living habits.
The resolution requests the Governor to issue an annual proclamation calling on
public officials and the citizens of New Jersey to observe the month with
appropriate activities and programs.
Obesity is a national epidemic which can have adverse effects on peoples’ health and economic well-being. The percentage of New Jersey citizens who are considered obese has increased from 12.3 percent in 1995 to 25.6 percent in 2015; at the current rate of increase, an estimated 48.3 percent of New Jersey adults will be obese by the year 2030. Obesity is associated with increased risk of developing heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer.