The Connecticut Coalition Against Childhood Obesity has formed to combat the epidemic of childhood obesity and the urgent need to address its connection to Connecticut’s educational achievement gap. The Coalition, comprised of more than 30 health advocacy organizations, stresses that the connections between better health and better academic achievement make action against childhood obesity an education as well as health imperative.

The Coalition’s priorities are:

• Expand joint use of school athletic facilities by communities:  provides year-round access to safe places to play and exercise
• Implement a coordinated approach to school health in every school district:  improves academic achievement because healthier students are better learners
• Schedule 20 consecutive minutes of physical activity in grade K-5:  results in healthier students, with better concentration, who are ready to learn in class
• Establish a state council on childhood and adult obesity:  improves cross-departmental strategies to combat obesity and ensures access to grants and funds for Connecticut

To respond effectively to the achievement gap in our schools, implementing Coordinated School Health is an essential part of the solution.  A coordinated school health program acknowledges the strong link between nutrition, school-based physical activity, physical education and academic performance.  It also recognizes that student health has a direct impact on cognitive skills and attitudes toward academic behavior, and results in better concentration, attention, and overall improved classroom behavior.

The Coalition members support policy priorities that will improve nutrition and physical activity in schools, child care, families and communities; that are based on best practices; that are likely to reduce the incidence of childhood obesity and have a positive impact on children’s health; and that are achievable through policy, regulation and other reform actions.