Bush’s “No Child Left Behind” Contributes to Childhood Obesity
Experts say the epidemic of childhood obesity is worsened by Bush’s education policy

Salt Lake City, UT- As the health of the nation’s youth plummets and their weight skyrockets, public schools are fast becoming the frontlines in the battle against obesity. While school lunches and vending machines are often tagged as key contributors to childhood obesity, many critics are now taking aim at President Bush’s “No Child Left Behind” policy as another culpable party.

The program began in 2001, forcing many schools to cut back on funding and class time for P.E., health education, the arts, and even field trips to meet the reading, writing, and math standards of “No Child Left Behind”.

In the forthcoming documentary “Killer at Large”, Jeff Levi — of Trust for America’s Health — comments, “I don’t think ‘No Child Left Behind’ was designed to cause children to be less active, but programs like that create priorities for schools and physical education is not part of those priorities.”

“The fitness levels of kids are just through the floor,” says David Gatti, a Murray, Utah middle school PE teacher. “I’d say that about 40 to 50 percent of my students look like they have not developed the motor skill of running.” While the effects of “No Child Left Behind” on academic performance are debatable, Coach Gatti worries, “Reading, writing, and math are important, but we’re not developing the whole student.”

Steven Greenstreet chose to direct “Killer at Large” about the American obesity epidemic, because he says, “It really is sad, shameful even. With shockingly poor government food standards in our school lunchrooms, vending machines cluttering the hallways, and programs like ‘No Child Left Behind’ taking precious PE time from our youth, the government seems to be willfully promoting a lifetime of unhealthy habits to the nation’s youth.”

When approached for comment about the “No Child Left Behind” program, officials at the Department of Education said the program “in no way contributes to obesity and anyone who would claim to the contrary has been misinformed.” This documentary examines why the contrary is true.

For more information about the film “Killer At Large” please visit http://www.killeratlarge.com/.

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