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**About Evon O'Brien** Senator Evon O'Brien proudly represents the beautiful state of Colorado as Senator, from swaying grasslands and red-cliff mesas to glorious Rocky Mountain alpine meadows filled with wildflowers. Born in Vail, Colorado she attended Vail Mountain School. Eventually she went on to attend the Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom where she obtained her bachelors degree in International Business, and then later on received her degree in law from Yale University. As a member of the Senate, Senator O'Brien is a member of the Republican party. She also believes in the conscience model of representation Although Senator O'Brien works to deal with many different issues she has one issue that she strongly believes in which is Childhood Obesity. She believes that more attention needs to be paid to the ongoing threat of Childhood Obesity in America.



__Title:__ Hungry for Change

__Purpose:__ To put a stop to childhood obesity that is constantly growing across the United States by: educating families and children about how important exercise and healthy eating is; by increasing physical education classes in schools; by improving lunches, and snack options for children in schools.

__Findings:__ Congress finds that: - Childhood obesity in the U.S. has tripled since 1980 - 16% (9 million) ages 6-19 are overweight or obese in the U.S. - Obesity rates for preschool children (ages 2-5) and adolescents (ages 12-19) has doubled, elementary children (ages 6-11) has risen three fold - Overweight adolescents have a 70% chance of becoming obese adults - If one or more of the adolescent’s parent is overweight/obese they have a 80% chance - If the issue is not addressed one in three children born today will develop Type 2 diabetes, and other obesity related illnesses - 44.5% of children in the state of Mississippi qualify as being overweight - Each year children are exposed to over 40,000 advertisements – 72% are for candy, cereal, and fast foods - In 2008 $147 billion dollars worth of medical costs related to lost productivity associated with obesity - In 10 years 43% of the U.S. will be obese with costs at $344 billion/21% of all medical expenditures

__Eligibility (if applicable):__ State level – public and private schools

EDUCATION - A block grant program will provide the means for children to be educated early on in schools on the importance of physical education and eating healthy. With the grant schools will be able to serve healthier options for lunches, and snacks. Schools will also be able to have more physical education classes with the grant providing the means to employ more physical education teachers in schools.

PREVENTION - To prevent childhood obesity lunches and snacks provided in schools will have to meet certain health criteria, and healthy meal plans will be provided for schools. To prevent childhood obesity more physical education classes in schools will be increased enforcing more exercise for children across the country. To prevent childhood obesity there will be a limit to the amount of media promoting "un-healthy" food limiting children's exposure to media. To prevent childhood obesity the block grant will award schools if they promote health, excercise, and provide healthy foods and options in the school.

__Co-sponsor(s):__ - Senator Baker - Senator Schell - Senator Cannon - Senator Cochran - Senator Miller - Senator Tanton IV - Senator Johnson - Senator Knowles - Senator Gelderman