By Laura Weber, Michigan Public Radio Network
Lansing, MI – Some health advocates say Governor Rick Snyder was not bold enough in his State of the State speech on fighting childhood obesity. Governor Snyder mentioned a program in his speech last week that would teach parents about proper nutrition for young children to help combat childhood obesity.
Katherine Knoll with the Midwest chapter of the American Heart Association says kids need direct instruction on how to control their weight, and that should take place in school.
"Just as we don't expect them to know how to read when they enter school, we don't expect them to know how to balance that calories-in-calories-out equation, and we need to work with them on that," says Knoll.
Knoll says she hopes the state Legislature will approve a measure that would require all kids in elementary and middle school to have physical education twice a week.
A spokeswoman for Governor Snyder says the governor wants to take a comprehensive approach toward tackling obesity. She says the administration expects to hear soon from the Department of Community Health on details of an obesity-fighting plan.