Congressman Sanford Bishop of Georgia introduced a bill today aimed at combating America's obesity epidemic, and specifically targeting men and women thinking about serving in the armed forces.

The Healthy Activity for Lifelong Energy (HALE) Act would make funding available to State Health Departments to implement programs that promote fitness and healthy eating. The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services could grant $300,000 per year to State Health Departments to establish between four and eight “community action teams” within the state to assess where the greatest improvements in fitness education can be made.

“If our society is not physically fit, we will not be able to defend ourselves and our country’s common interests,” said Bishop “However, promoting healthier lifestyles and improving the overall public health must begin at the local level. This bill makes funding available where it is needed most by providing states and localities with the tools and resources they need to address obesity and tailor solutions to individual communities.”

By Lily Gordon - lgordon@ledger-enquirer.com

Ledger Enquirer Newspaper - Columbus, GA