In this issue, we highlight the U.S. obesity epidemic with information on research, policy, legislation, and organizations dedicated to addressing it. Despite the pervasiveness of the problem, NCHPAD and many organizations are jointly achieving a tipping point to achieve access to fitness and health promotion programs for people with disabilities and chronic conditions, as Dr. Rimmer mentions in his Director's Column. Other newsletter topics include our new video clip for persons with paraplegia, a book review on adapted games and activities, new NCHPAD factsheets for kids on Thera-Band® and exercise ball exercise programs, and more. Send comments or suggestions, as well as entries for future newsletters, to Jennifer Gray at jegray@uic.edu.

1) U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) and Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) have introduced legislation to address the increase in obesity among American youth. The Childhood Obesity Reduction Act would recognize schools with plans to increase physical activity and promote healthy nutritional choices and authorizes $2.2 million in fiscal year 2005 to establish a Congressional Council to Combat Childhood Obesity. The Council would highlight successful programs, develop model nutrition and exercise plans for schools, and coordinate outreach and public awareness efforts. After two years of identifying and selecting model programs, the Council will create a public-private foundation that will award grants to schools that have model anti-obesity programs.

2) The National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) provides information on the causes and consequences of obesity, body mass index, how to lose weight, and more at http://www.ncpad.org/683/3053/2004-10-01#1.

3) Shape Up America is a non-profit program dedicated to achieving a healthy weight for life. The organization has free memberships to online support for weight loss and fitness and general information on "diabesity," childhood obesity, a pediatric BMI assessment tool, etc. Visit Shape Up America at http://www.ncpad.org/683/3053/2004-10-01#2.

4) This year's National Health Education Week will be October 18-24. The theme will be healthy eating for attaining a healthy weight. See the National Center for Health Education (http://www.ncpad.org/683/3053/2004-10-01#3) and the Society for Public Health Education (http://www.ncpad.org/683/3053/2004-10-01#4) for downloadable materials. October 11-15 was National School Lunch Week. The American School Food Service Association (http://www.ncpad.org/683/3053/2004-10-01#5) provides information on advances in nutrition for school lunch programs, and see the Illinois Center on Health, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Disability at http://www.ncpad.org/content/12/Health~Promotion~Nutrition.

** October is National Spina Bifida Awareness Month. See the Spina Bifida Association of America's Web site at http://www.ncpad.org/683/3053/2004-10-01#6, as well as NCHPAD spina bifida and exercise materials at http://www.ncpad.org/222/1443/Spina~Bifida~-~Physical~Activity~Guidelines.