Nationwide Children’s and Cleveland Clinic Join Forces to Lead Successful Statewide Coalition to Pass Healthy Children’s Legislation

A bi-partisan effort to decrease childhood obesity passed the Ohio General Assembly last week with the support of the Healthy Choices for Healthy Children coalition.  The coalition is co-chaired by Nationwide Children’s Hospital CEO Steve Allen, MD and Cleveland Clinic CEO Toby Cosgrove, MD.

The bill will improve the nutritional value of foods offered during the regular and extended school day and raises the bar for physical education.  It further provides for Body Mass Index (BMI) screenings upon school entry and in the 3rd, 5th, and 9th grades. 

“The ABC’s of ending childhood obesity are accountability, bipartisanship and comprehensive solutions,” says Dr. Allen.  “This legislation accomplishes all three in a way that will help our children avoid becoming the first generation in Ohio history to live shorter lives than their parents.” 

The Healthy Choices for Healthy Children coalition represents organizations involved in business, healthcare, education, child advocacy, fitness and nutrition as part of the Ohio Business Roundtable Childhood Obesity Task Force.

“This is a first step in Ohio to combat the overwhelming epidemic of childhood obesity,” says Richard Stoff, president, Ohio Business Roundtable.  “The Healthy Choices for Healthy Children bill will help make Ohio’s children healthier – and today’s children are the workforce of tomorrow.”