Passing of Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act should help diabetes sufferers in the US

Tue, 10 Aug 2010
The US Senate has passed the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act, which provides schools with the resources to offer healthy meals to students through the school lunch programme, as well as taking away junk foods and high calorie beverages from school vending machines and a la carte meals.

The move, which was applauded by the American Diabetes Association, allows greater access to healthy foods for low-income women, infants and children, and means the House of Representatives to now vote to reauthorize federal nutrition programmes which were due to expire next month.

Diabetes is becoming a problem in the US, with major risk factors such as obesity and issues associated with being overweight on the rise. However, studies into the disease reveal that eating a healthy diet can help to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes . With one in three children facing the disease if current trends continue, it is hoped the legislation will provide schools with the nutritious food needed to reverse this.

Christine Tobin, President Health Care and Education for the American Diabetes Association, commented "The American public is traveling into unchartered territory. Never before have we seen this many cases of type 2 diabetes in children and young adults. But there are actions we can take to stop the diabetes epidemic.

Today the Senate took an important step by passing the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act. We strongly urge the House of Representatives to pass their version of the bill, the Improving Nutrition for America's Children Act, when they return to Washington in September."

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