Lautenberg/Menendez fund chronic disease education.

As Middletown Mike has already posted the item, Lautenberg and Menendez have funded Montclair University with $1.3 million to educate middle school kids about the importance of healthy eating and exercise. It is encouraging to see that the issue of chronic diseases is resonating with our elected representatives. However, more can be done, especially since Pres-elect Obama is asking for active feedback from us at www.change.gov. We should take an active role in making sure that chronic disease prevention is seriously addressed in any coming healthcare reform.

The entire press release is below:

Press Release of Senator Lautenberg

Lautenberg, Menendez Announce More Than $1 Million To Expand Health Education In New Jersey

Award Will Fund 5-Year Program for Middle-School Students On Importance of Healthy Eating and Exercise

Contact: Lautenberg Press Office (202) 224-3224
Monday, December 8, 2008

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today announced that Montclair State University received a $1.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to fund a five-year program to educate middle school students about the importance of healthy eating and exercise.

“By teaching our children to eat right and exercise, we can help them avoid chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease,” Sen. Lautenberg said. “This award will go a long way to protecting future generations by helping them build a healthy future.”

“Educating our children on the importance of healthy eating allows them to live longer, more productive lives and even helps our economy through decreased health care costs,” said Senator Menendez. “The abundance of fast food and junk food options coupled with video games and television that cut into exercise into have exacerbated this issue. This timely funding will help New Jersey students better understand how they can develop into healthy, life changing habits.”

Run at Montclair State University, the project will ensure that students understand the benefits of diet and exercise, and study how healthy eating and physical activity improves students’ abilities in the sciences, and increases their interest in public health and science careers.

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