In Massachusetts, approximately one-quarter of high school students are overweight or at risk for becoming overweight and the rates in the entire country has tripled for the last 30 years. But thankfully, the amendments sponsored by McGee have finally been adopted into the new nutrition bill.

The amendment states that there should be constant updates of data on physical education practices in schools. The data that are collected should then be studied and analyzed before making recommendations for new exercise and nutrition programs.

He says the bill he filed was aimed at providing the children with quality physical education that would improve their health over the course of their lifetimes and that it was not just about physical fitness but emotional and cognitive as well. McGee also says that by focusing on both nutrition and physical activity, the obesity epidemic will also be indirectly addressed.

“Every student in Massachusetts deserves the opportunity to benefit from quality physical education which will provide them with the foundation to adopt healthier and physically active lifestyles,” says McGee.