A Wisconsin Congressman is drawing on some celebrity power to help fight childhood obesity.
Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI) says children across the nation aren't getting the physical activity they need. As a result, they are facing a greater risk of juvenile diabetes because of childhood obesity.
The Wisconsin Democrat was joined on Capitol Hill Thursday by fitness guru Richard Simmons, who says P.E. needs to be a part of a classroom education. Simmons says current P.E. standards are not acceptable and children need to exercise every day.
Kind is co-sponsoring legislation that would make P.E. classes part of No Child Left Behind requirements. He argues that healthier children are able to perform better in school, because the physical activity allows them to concentrate more.
Simmons says teaching more physical education in the classroom could encourage children to bring that information home, possibly helping to get parents in shape. Simmons told a Congressional hearing Thursday that up to 60-percent of obese children also have parents who are obese.
Kind admits it may be hard for some schools to implement new P.E. standards, so the bill could be expand to provide help for schools. He says the government would likely study the best ways to implement new standards and provide assistance for schools to expand their offerings.
AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (MP3 1:00)
