Child Nutrition And Wic Reauthorization Act - 1816 Words

I. Introduction The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act (Public Law 108-265) was passed by Congress in 2004 (Corbin McKenzie, 2008). The act requires all public schools, or schools with federal funding, to develop a wellness plan for the students (Corbin McKenzie, 2008). The policy is attached to increase opportunities for nutrition, physical education and encouragement of better food choices outside of school boundaries (Virgilio, 2009). While the sentiment is clearly positive, whether or not it works or favors certain populations is unclear. The Child Nutrition Act guidelines are a model, since some schools are not adequately funded, other vendors come into play that do not have the best interests of our children at†¦show more content†¦1693). Today, people discuss nutrition more in depth as much more is known about the detriments of high fat foods and sedentary life styles. Currently in America, the 2004 WIC policy is being discussed. The reason for the various changes can be linked to changes in knowledge but also due to the obesity epidemic in America. An article that came out in 2004—the same year of the WIC Reauthorization Act—explains it this way: Childhood obesity is a rapidly worsening epidemic in the United States. Findings from the most recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) indicate that in 1999-2000, the prevalence of obesity among children aged 6 through 11 years was 15% (Thorpe, List, Marx, May et al., 2004, p.1496). The WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 mandated that any school receiving federal funding would be required to create a school wellness policy by 2006 (Wharton, Long Schwartz, 2008). The policies created would set guidelines for all foods that are sold on campus in order to reduce the chance of obesity (Wharton, Long Schwartz, 2008). This is a policy that has provided some attention to th e issue of nutrition in the school systems and would provide an opportunity for school nurses, dietitians and other personnel to influence the food policies of the districts in which they work or live (Wharton, Long Schwartz, 2008). The Act does mandate that many changes be made, and nutrition is often