Here is what the CDC (www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks) says about Listeria:

What is Listeriosis?

Listeriosis, a serious infection usually caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes, is an important public health problem in the United States. The disease primarily affects older adults, pregnant women, newborns, and adults with weakened immune systems. However, rarely, persons without these risk factors can also be affected. The risk may be reduced by following a few simple recommendations.

What are the Symptoms of Listeriosis?

A person with listeriosis usually has fever and muscle aches, sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. Almost everyone who is diagnosed with listeriosis has “invasive” infection, in which the bacteria spread beyond the gastrointestinal tract. The symptoms vary with the infected person:

• Pregnant women: Pregnant women typically experience only a mild, flu-like illness. However, infections during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn.
• Persons other than pregnant women: Symptoms, in addition to fever and muscle aches, can include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions.
• Symptoms may begin a few days after you’ve eaten contaminated food, but it may take as long as two months before the first signs and symptoms of infection begin

 If you have eaten food that may be infected with Listeria (e.g. lettuce and cantaloupes recalled by the FDA), and or if you have experienced any symptoms mentioned above, from foods that may have been contaminated from other bacteria sources (e.g. undercooked meats, etc.), see your medical professional  immediately.

Several new bills have been proposed in the U.S. House of Representatives and you should all be aware of them:

1. A.     H.R. 1585-The FIT kids ACT: passed the House of Representatives April 21, 2010, renews the emphasis on physical education in schools.  The Act would work to ensure kids are active during the school day and are taught to be personally responsible for their health.  The legislation would engage parents and the public by requiring all school districts and states to report on students’ physical activity, including the amount of time spent in required physical education in relation to the recommended national standard.  In addition, the Act would fund research to examine the link between children’s health and their academic achievement and recommend effective and innovative ways to get physical education back into schools. This Act was proposed and or supported by U.S. Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) Co-chair of the Congressional Fitness Caucus with U.S. Reps. Zach Wamp (R-TN), George Miller (D-CA), Chair of the House Education and Labor Committee
2. B.     H.R. 5209- The Healthy Choices Act: The Act takes a comprehensive approach to combating obesity with provisions that address various sources contributing to unhealthy lifestyles.  Provisions include: increasing access to the tools and education to make healthy choices updating nutrition guidelines for child and adult care food programs, increasing access to nutritional information and healthy, affordable foods in rural and low-income urban areas, improving access to and opportunity for physical activity for adults and children, and providing more opportunities to participate in outdoor physical activities, including as a means of transportation. One provision would require pediatricians to measure a child’s body mass index (BMI) and include it in school age children’s vaccination records. This Act is proposed and or supported by: U.S. Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) along with Reps. Mary Bono Mack (R-CA); Earl Blumenauer (D-OR); and Marcia Fudge(D-OH).

The recent proposed bills have the support of the food and fitness industry, coming together for the first time in recognition that we have a problem. And that, my friends is what it will take-a partnership between our government, our corporate and private sectors, coming together. Did you know that according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 73 percent of adults and 43 percent of children in the United States are overweight!!! In 2008, 32 states in America reported obesity rates of 25 percent or more.  

One aspect of the Healthy Choices Act that seems to be in contention is the part about pediatricians measuring the BMI (Body Mass Index) and making it available in a child’s vaccination history. I heard it discussed by Jimmy Cefalo and Manny Munoz on WIOD talk radio as well as on FOX News Sunday. The Fat Police is being debated all over. That’s good. No one is ever happy feeling that our government will intrude into our lives, will start mass weigh-ins and or will penalize us for being over the “ideal” body weight. But this obesity problem is getting worse. And it is directly affecting our children on a global basis. Many states have already placed BMI reporting into law. Parents need to be aware of their child’s health status-and that includes their weight. Many parents are unaware of their child’s weight status as it relates to them being overweight or obese. In fact many underestimate their child’s weight and body mass. Parents need to be aware that if their child’s BMI is abnormal, they may be at risk for developing weight related medical problems like diabetes and heart disease. BMI reporting will help parents recognize these potential issues. That’s the good part of BMI reporting. Is there a “bad” part of BMI reporting-maybe? Like any information, it could be used against an individual. Could insurance companies get this information and place a child in a”high-risk” category and charge more? The BMI reporting could get a child placed into an aggressive exercise class or placed on a diet. How will the “other kids” in the class view kids with “abnormal” BMI’s? The social implications of this type of reporting and subsequent management raise many questions.  

Yes it’s true we need to instruct our kids on proper nutrition and fitness. Yes it’s true we need dietary and fitness instructions for parents as well. But the one point we all must realize, is that once we gain the weight, it is very difficult to lose it. No matter what diet we try. So the answer is not that easy. We have to look at the other problems we have had as a society, and the solutions, to give us a direction in how to deal with obesity. I have previously mentioned seat belts and smoking. Both problems could not and were not able to be solved by our own “self-discipline” or lack of. We needed our government to place rules. That is what we need to help us all deal with obesity. When I mention “us all” I am including the world since obesity is a global epidemic-not just one in the United States.

I applaud Representative Ron Kind (D-WI) for taking a stand and proposing these bills as a step toward a solution for the childhood obesity problems. Encouraging adequate exercise and appropriate nutrition is fundamental to help our kids stay healthy.  Proposing legislation to allow more government in our lives-I guess we will all have to give up something to get something. We will have to tackle many uncomfortable issues such as BMI reporting. But since our children spend so many hours a day at school, shouldn’t the schools share the obligation to help keep them healthy? We just have to find the right mix. Can the government help in dealing with our obesity problem-the answer is yes. Do the bills take “us”-the parents- off the hook-absolutely not. After all, each of us has to buckle our safety belt. With the new obesity laws, we will still have to practice good fitness and nutritional habits and instruct our children as well. It will be a partnership-the government and “We the people….” Sound familiar?

Let me know your thoughts. Write me at talk@nerdel.com. Stay fit and healthy the New Nerdel Way!!

1. The lower house of the Mexican Congress passed a law against childhood obesity. This law will try to limit the selling of junk food in primary and secondary schools and also require daily half hour exercise periods.
2. The new law will also try to stop children from eating and drinking foods with high fat, high sugar and preservatives and to encourage shops near schools to sell fruit and “healthy juice.”
3. According to Mexican data, almost 52 percent of the 5 to 11 year olds in Mexico are either obese or overweight and that Mexico has one of the worst childhood obesity problems in Latin America. 

We don’t have to go outside our country to see similar efforts by our own state legislators.

1. California:  legislators passed laws banning the sale of machine-dispensed snacks and drinks in elementary schools in 2003. In 2009 they passed a law to prohibit the sale of sodas in high schools.
2. Connecticut: Governor M. Jodo Rell  vetoed a bill, passed by Connecticut legislators, that would have restricted  the sale of some snack foods and beverages in all public schools and require a minimum of 100 minutes a week of recess for younger students.
3. New York: several bills are being proposed that would levy taxes on “fatty foods,” movie tickets, video games and DVD rentals! Mayor Bloomberg of New York City  proposed his National Salt Reduction Initiative meant to set guidelines to cut the amount of salt in processed and restaurant foods by 20% in the next five years.
4. 17 States that enacted school nutrition legislation in 2005: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas and West Virginia
5. Nebraska and Texas considered taxing foods and beverages with minimal nutritional value.
6. In 2005 21 states enacted legislation requiring physical education and physical activity in schools:  Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia
7. In 2003 Arkansas became the first state to enact BMI legislation. As of 2008-Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia.
8. California: enacted legislation in 2003 that requires non-invasive screening of 7^th grade (female) and 8^th grade (male) students for type 2 diabetes risk including measurement of body mass index as one of four diabetes risk factors.
9. Maine: a law enacted in April 2008 that imposed a tax on syrup used to make soda in restaurants, bottled soft drinks, beer and wine, and on claims paid by insurance companies, and directed the tax revenues to pay for the Dirigo Health Choices program, a government-sponsored health insurance program, was overturned by Maine voters in a November referendum

Well my friends, there you have it-this is part two of a continuing discussion about  the current governmental penalties for nutrition and fitness and the potential for many more to come. So I raise the question again, can we govern ourselves? Do we have self discipline? Can we decrease the portion sizes and calories we consume? The answer my friends is that we will inevitably see more governmental policies, laws and requirements regarding the nutrition and fitness of our children and ourselves. Obesity and overweight categories of our population are at epidemic proportions. Shouldn’t the health of its citizens be of prime importance to our representatives?  Send me your comments here at talk@nerdel.com. This story will continue!

My friends, stay fit and healthy The New Nerdel Way!

For more information on state laws enacted and proposed please visit: The National Conference of State Legislatures