American Heart Association Careers Support FIT Kids Act

Those with American Heart Association careers, as well as supporters of the organization, are working hard to keep kids healthy.

Rep. Ron Kind and Sen. Tom Harkin recently reintroduced the Fitness Integrated with Teaching Kids Act, a bill aimed at increasing physical education programs in schools in an effort to combat childhood obesity and other common health problems.

The FIT Kids Act would make sure that children are active during the school day and that they are able to learn about health and wellness. It also would require all school districts and states to report on student's physical activity.

Aside from ensuring that children stay healthy, the measure also calls for the appropriate professional development of health and physical education teachers. It also provides funding to research the link between a child's health and academic achievement and ways to combat childhood obesity.

"With childhood obesity rates that have tripled over the last few decades, we must make every effort to help children reduce their risk for heart disease, stroke and other life-threatening illnesses," Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association, said in a statement. "More than 80 percent of adults support daily physical education yet such programs have been on the decline in many school districts. The FIT Kids Act would help educate parents about the quality and quantity of physical education in their child’s school."

To date, the FIT Kids Act has been endorsed by:

• The American Diabetes Association
• The American Heart Association
• National Association for Sport and Physical Education
• Grocery Manufacturers Association
• National Football League
• Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association
• YMCA