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Public Act 096-0155 |
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AN ACT concerning public health.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the | ||||
Obesity Prevention Initiative Act. | ||||
Section 5. Legislative findings. The General Assembly | ||||
makes all of the following findings: | ||||
(1) Nearly 25% of Illinois adults are obese and 37% are | ||||
overweight, 62% of Illinois adults in total.
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(2) The percentage of normal-weight Illinois adults | ||||
has steadily decreased as the percentage who are overweight | ||||
or obese has steadily increased.
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(3) More than 31% of Illinois children ages 10 through | ||||
17 years are considered overweight or obese.
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(4) A majority (56%) of publicly insured children are | ||||
overweight or obese (the highest state prevalence in the | ||||
nation) and nearly 2 in 5 (39%) black, non-Hispanic | ||||
children are overweight or obese (the third highest state | ||||
prevalence).
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(5) Today's overweight and obese children are likely to | ||||
become tomorrow's overweight and health-impaired adults, | ||||
at risk for premature death.
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(6) Being overweight and obese puts people at increased |
risk for coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, certain | ||
cancers, hypertension, dyslipidemia (high cholesterol or | ||
triglycerides or both), stroke, liver and gallbladder | ||
disease, sleep apnea and respiratory problems, | ||
osteoarthritis, and gynecological problems.
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(7) Overweight and obesity-related diseases cause | ||
premature death.
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(8) The economic costs associated with treating these | ||
diseases is substantial and increasing, accounting for | ||
more than 9% of total health care costs, approximately half | ||
of which are born by public resources via Medicare and | ||
Medicaid and the majority of the remainder born by | ||
employers.
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(9) Obese people suffer more injuries and disabilities | ||
and have more non-productive work days in total, creating | ||
loss of earnings for Illinois employees and loss of | ||
productivity for Illinois employers.
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(10) Research has shown that 27% of health care charges | ||
for adults over age 40 are associated with people being | ||
physically inactive, overweight, or obese.
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(11) From 1987 to 2001, obesity-related spending | ||
accounted for an estimated 27% of the increase in | ||
inflation-adjusted per capita health spending.
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(12) Research has shown that each additional day of | ||
physical activity per week can reduce medical charges by | ||
4.7%.
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(13) The non-economic costs of being overweight or | ||
obese that is experienced by Illinois citizens are | ||
immeasurable in terms of pain, mobility, self-esteem, bias | ||
and stigma, the grief associated with the premature death | ||
of loved ones, and other quality of life issues.
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(14) Food and exercise habits are strongly linked to | ||
the food and exercise habits of the communities in which | ||
the individuals live, work, attend school, and socialize.
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(15) Individual and community food and exercise habits | ||
are strongly linked to environmental factors, such as | ||
access to healthy food and safe opportunities for physical | ||
activity. | ||
(16) Public health interventions focusing on healthy | ||
eating, physical activity, and environmental change to | ||
facilitate these behaviors have been shown to be successful | ||
in reducing obesity and promoting healthy weight and | ||
physical activity among children and adults.
Communities | ||
in Illinois are developing and implementing promising | ||
models that should be evaluated and supported. | ||
(17) Obesity is a significant contributing factor to | ||
many chronic diseases faced by Illinois residents and that | ||
obesity and its effects on human health are best addressed | ||
in an evidence-based, holistic manner, including policy | ||
change, environmental change, and community public health | ||
and wellness efforts.
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(18) The General Assembly has recognized the |
importance of studying obesity and passed the Obesity Study | ||
and Prevention Fund Act in 2004. The Illinois State Health | ||
Improvement Plan (SHIP) identified obesity and physical | ||
activity as strategic priority health conditions that | ||
demand action, including without limitation the following: | ||
(A) Increased efforts to educate the public on the | ||
health risks associated with obesity and poor | ||
nutrition, effective methods for improving nutrition | ||
and physical activity, and resources to help | ||
individuals to adopt healthy lifestyles. | ||
(B) Promoting changes in State and local policies | ||
designed to support healthy eating and physical | ||
activity, including improving community access to | ||
healthy food and safe opportunities for physical | ||
activity.
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Section 10. Obesity Prevention Initiative. Within 60 days | ||
after the effective date of this Act, and subject to the | ||
availability of public, private, and contributed in-kind | ||
resources, the Department of Public Health shall work with the | ||
Department of Human Services and other public, private, and | ||
voluntary stakeholders to plan, organize, and publicize at | ||
least 3 hearings on the health and social costs of obesity and | ||
the need to address the obesity epidemic with community, | ||
policy, and individual health behavior change. The purpose of | ||
these hearings shall be to (1) highlight existing State and |
community level initiatives, (2) identify existing plans and | ||
opportunities for action and the expansion of initiatives, (3) | ||
inform policy makers and the public about effective solutions | ||
to the problem, and (4) identify and engage stakeholders to | ||
promote action to reduce obesity, improve nutrition, and | ||
increase physical activity. The hearing officers shall | ||
include: the Chair of the State Board of Health or her designee | ||
and up to 3 additional members of the State Board of Health; | ||
the Chair of the Chronic Disease Task Force, if appointed, and | ||
up to 3 additional members of the Chronic Disease Task Force, | ||
if appointed; 2 members of the House of Representatives, one of | ||
whom shall be named by the Speaker of the House and one of whom | ||
shall be named by the Minority Leader of the House; and 2 | ||
members of the Senate, one of whom shall be named by the | ||
President of the Senate and one of whom shall be named by the | ||
Minority Leader of the Senate. The Department shall provide or | ||
work with stakeholders to provide logistical and support staff | ||
for hearings. | ||
No later than February 1, 2010, and subject to the | ||
availability of public, private, and contributed in-kind | ||
resources, a report on these hearings shall be provided to the | ||
members of the General Assembly and the State Board of Health | ||
to inform and support action on implementing the 2009 State | ||
Health Improvement Plan. Pursuant to Public Act 95-0900, the | ||
Chronic Disease Task Force shall also use the report to inform | ||
the Plan that is due July 1, 2010 to the General Assembly. |
Within 60 days after the completion of the report on the | ||
hearings, but no later than April 1, 2010, and subject to | ||
appropriation for that purpose, the Department of Public Health | ||
shall grant funds to one or more non-profit organizations or | ||
local public health departments to conduct a statewide | ||
education and engagement campaign focusing on the health | ||
effects of obesity, the social costs of obesity, and the need | ||
to address the obesity epidemic with community, policy, and | ||
individual health behavior change.
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Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||
becoming law.
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