Childhood obesity is a serious issue. It requires the concerted efforts of parents, schools, health care professionals, business and industry to tackle and reverse the trends we see, not only in our state, but also across the nation.

While other states across the South have slowed or even stopped the growth of childhood obesity, in Georgia we have done very little. Childhood obesity is now a legitimate public health issue, one on which I began working four years ago. Our research in 2005 led to the introduction of the Student Health and Fitness Act of 2006 (SB 474).

That legislation used scientific data to establish the appropriate amount of physical education instruction for students in grades K-5. In addition, the legislation simply asked middle schools to develop a plan on how they might —- given other challenges and mandates placed upon them —- provide the necessary level of physical activity as recognized by leading cardiovascular experts.

While the Georgia Senate embraced this concept and recognized its value, opposition to this idea was fierce. Educators, major teacher organizations and the Georgia School Board Association opposed the plan. Despite the fact that experts testified that the level of physical activity the bill required would enhance, not diminish, academic performance, the opposition continued. What I found most ironic was that the level of physical activity required in the bill was identical to the level that, for years, has been required of public schools by the State Board of Education curriculum and the Georgia Department of Education. How could school systems be opposed to complying with curriculum as established by the DOE and the state school board?

Recognizing the advancement of this epidemic and giving credence to the voice of opposition, another direction was sought. I, along with other legislators and advocates of increased physical activity for Georgia's youth, discussed and studied this issue for months. This culminated in the formation of a Childhood Obesity Study Committee, spearheaded by Sen. Don Thomas (R-Dalton). Leading experts and educators offered ideas, testimony and possible solutions. The message from public education was loud and clear: "Place no mandates on us. . . . Create an incentive-based approach to physical education and the problem of childhood obesity. Do not propose a one-size-fits-all mandate." With that in mind, Senate Bill 506 was born.

While much attention has centered on the body-mass-index testing issue, in my mind that has always been a peripheral part of the legislation. The bill is drafted in such a way that any height and weight measurement must be conducted in a confidential setting and in a way that respects the privacy of each student. The intent of this legislation was never to belittle or embarrass anyone.

That being said, the goal is to create an environment so that schools themselves can determine how they can make their students healthier. SB 506 requires that the statewide physical education co-ordinator gather and distribute to local systems best practices and successful approaches for dealing with this issue. Schools, with input from parents, decide which approach is best.

As the father of two sons who both attend public school, I, too, am uncomfortable with the barrage of standardized tests to which we have subjected our students. I recognize, however, that we live in an age of accountability. School administrators work every day to create new and innovative ways to increase test scores. SB 506 aims to create a similar environment when it comes to student physical fitness. As the aggregate BMI score of a school is made public, it is my belief that we would begin to see schools focus on healthier lunches and true physical education instruction. I also think we'll see simple ideas like allowing students to have a bottle of water on their desks during class. A byproduct of this renewed focus on fitness and health will no doubt be better test scores and higher academic achievement.

The debate that has centered around this legislation is a great example of representative government in action. I applaud those who have joined in this debate and vow to move forward with modifications to this bill so as to alleviate the concerns expressed by many yet tackle the problem identified by all.

> State Sen. Joseph Carter is a Republican from Tifton.