JOHN O. AGWUNOBI, M.D., M.B.A., M.P.H.

SECRETARY

September 1, 2005

F D

E

JOHN

LORIDA

EPARTMENT OF

DUCATION

L. WINN

Commissioner of Education

Dear Superintendent:

As you begin a new school year, we extend greetings on behalf of the Department of Health and

Department of Education. The United States Congress recognizes that schools play a critical role

in promoting student health, preventing childhood obesity, and combating problems associated

with poor nutrition and physical inactivity. To formalize and encourage this role, Congress passed

Public Law 108-265, which requires each school district participating in the National School Lunch

Program and National School Breakfast Program to establish a local wellness policy by the

beginning of school year 2006-2007.

This requirement provides districts with the opportunity to develop policies related to school food

services, nutrition education, physical activity, and other food-related activities such as vending

machines, classroom rewards, celebrations, and fundraising. The National Alliance for Nutrition

and Activity provides model school wellness policies on their website, which can be viewed at:

http://www.schoolwellnesspolicies.org/WellnessPolicies.html.

The epidemic of overweight and obese children has increased markedly in recent years. The

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that among children and teens aged 6-19

years, 16 percent (over 19 million young people) are considered overweight. This is a 45 percent

increase over the estimates from a 1988-1994 study. Approximately 60 percent of obese children

have associated cardiovascular risk, such as elevated blood pressure, blood sugar, triglycerides,

or cholesterol. As a result, the current generation of American children is the first in history to have

a shorter life expectancy than their parents.

We encourage you to review the enclosed

Governor’s Task Force on the Obesity Epidemic

Recommendations

at http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Family/GTFOE/, especially those

recommendations focusing on schools and parents, as you adopt policies and initiate programs

locally to help fight this epidemic. If we can be of any assistance, please contact Carol Vickers,

Director, Coordinated School Health Program, at the Department of Health, at (850) 245-4330,

extension 2794, carol_vickers@doh.state.fl.us; or, Penny Detscher, Director, Coordinated School

Health Program, at the Department of Education, at (850) 245-5089; penny.detscher@fldloe.org.

Sincerely,

Sincerely,

John O. Agwunobi, M.D., M.B.A., M.P.H.

John L. Winn

Secretary, Department of Health

Commissioner, Department of Education

JOA/JW/cbv