ORDINANCE NO. ______, SERIES 2018
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AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 118 OF THE LOUISVILLE METRO CODE OF ORDINANCES REGARDING ESTABLISHING THE NUTRITION REQUIREMENTS AND DEFAULT BEVERAGES OFFERED WITH CHILDREN'S MEALS. (AS AMENDED.)
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SPONSORED BY: COUNCIL MEMBERS BLACKWELL AND WELCH
WHEREAS, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control reports that the percentage of children and adolescents in the United States affected by obesity has more than tripled since the 1970s; and
WHEREAS, data from 2015-2016 show that nearly 1 in 5 school age children and young people (6 to 19 years) in the United States has obesity; and
WHEREAS, a child with obesity is more likely to have obesity as an adult. And an adult with obesity has a higher risk of developing heart disease, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and many types of cancer; and
WHEREAS, as of 2016, nearly 25 percent of sixth graders and 18 percent of kindergartners in Louisville Metro were obese; and
WHEREAS, overweight and obese children and adults are at greater risk for numerous serious health outcomes that place a large burden on the health care system and increase health care costs, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, certain cancers, asthma, arthritis and other debilitating diseases; and
WHEREAS, families in Louisville have limited time to obtain and prepare food making dining out an appealing and often necessary option; and
WHEREAS, many restaurants and beverage companies have taken steps to help citizens address obesity by introducing lower and no-calorie options, displaying calorie information, encouraging citizens to drink more water, removing full-calorie beverages from schools, and reducing calories from many of their products; and
WHEREAS, Healthy Louisville 2020, our shared community plan, has the goal to develop policy recommendations and implement programs to prevent and reduce risk factors that caus...
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