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Bill Clinton Urges Action On Childhood Obesity

Sunday, April 15, 2007

Apr. 15 - KGO (KGO) -- Thousands of school board members from across the country are in San Francisco this weekend for their annual convention and today's keynote speaker was former President Bill Clinton.

Many expected he would focus on the No Child Left Behind act, but Mr. Clinton challenged schools to help reduce child obesity.

For 10 year-old Connor Mayhew, the National School Boards Association convention became a little more exciting today.

Connor Mayhew, Lincoln, NE: "I was just thinking it would be like a little trip and then I get here and see the former president and it's like whoa!"

Former President Bill Clinton spent most of his 40 minute speech focused on the need to reduce child obesity in American schoolchildren.

Former President Bill Clinton: "We have run the risk, because of our eating, exercise habits, because of the way we make, distribute and consumer food, of raising the first generation of children to live shorter lives than their parents."

The Clinton Foundation is working with the American Heart Association on a program called Alliance For A Healthier Education. Schools say the challenge comes down to dollars and cents.

Gail Koss, Rockland County, N.Y.: "With funding problems as they've been lately, a lot of school districts cut back on physical education and that's wrong."

Many schools have made changes in their cafeteria menus, but not all.

Connor Mayhew: "We have a cafeteria, lots of tables. [They serve] sloppy joes, chicken, spaghetti."

And if schools provide important role models, what about the lesson of practice what you teach. After Clinton's speech, numerous school board members lunched on pizza.

Others, though, chose a fresh salad.

Walt Davis, Terrell, TX Superintendent: "We've got to have the students in the classrooms healthy and nourished so they can learn so, like he said, all the issues are very much related."

Former President Bill Clinton: "Nothing we do to reform health care in terms of universal coverage or bringing all these other costs in line with our competitors is sustainable if we keep lowering the age of eligibility for diabetes."

The NSBA convention continues through Monday. Tomorrow's keynote speaker is Erin Gruwell, the real life teacher who inspired the new film, Freedom Writers.

On Monday, actress turned children's book writer Jamie Lee Curtis will address the convention.

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