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From 1991 to 1995, daily participation in physical education among American high school students in public schools dropped 42 percent. Since 1980, the percentage of obese young people has doubled. Among children between the ages of 5 and 10 who are overweight, more than 60 percent already have one or more risk factors for cardiovascular disease; a quarter of those children have more than two such risk factors.

Physical activity can prevent cardiovascular disease, but sadly, only half of all adolescents regularly participate in vigorous physical activity. A fourth of all adolescents have reported that they don't engage in any physical activity, according to the Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity.

Unless we address this problem immediately, one in three children born in the year 2000 eventually will be diagnosed with diabetes, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

ADA, together with ACS and AHA, is working within certain states to lobby for expanded physical education in public schools. These new and improved physical education courses will incorporate both cardiovascular activities and curricula that focus on teaching young people about how fitness and good eating can improve their quality of life. The states that will benefit from this new project are Minnesota, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Washington.

In New Mexico, the coalition already has been busy for more than a year. In January 2004, hundreds of advocates from the three organizations met with legislators in Santa Fe to talk about the importance of physical education. The highlight of the day occurred when two physical trainers led an exercise routine on the Senate floor for the legislators.

"The forward-thinking coalition of ADA, AHA, and ACS was able to creatively show legislators how effective, important, and fun physical activity can be," said Veronica De La Garza, advocacy director for the American Diabetes Association in New Mexico.

To get involved in your state's effort, log on to http:// advocacy.diabetes.org.

Two Stem Cell Bills Meet Different Fates

In November, Californians voted overwhelmingly for Ballot Proposition 71, the California Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative. Proposition 71 represents a historic effort to provide funding for stem cell research at the state level. With its passage, Proposition 71 will provide nearly $300 million annually for California-based stem cell research over a 10-year period.

The American Diabetes Association, a member of the coalition sponsoring Proposition 71, was thrilled by the initiative's passage. The ADA organized a number of activities to help ensure that Proposition 71 passed. It mailed postcards to ADA members in California and generated telephone messages from Association Past-President Fran Kaufman, MD, of Children's Hospital in Los Angeles, and from former National Youth Advocate Emma Klatman, also of Los Angeles.

ADA representatives also testified at several public forums in support of Proposition 71, and they distributed several "action alerts" to California diabetes advocates through ADA's online action center at http://advocacy. diabetes, org.

ADA was part of a broad coalition of voluntary health organizations that supported this initiative. Proposition 71 gives California researchers the freedom to explore all the possible benefits of stem cell research (and embryonic stem cell research). Many scientists cite this research as among the most likely avenues to a cure for diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. ADA remains committed to finding a cure for diabetes and is hopeful that by assisting in campaigns for bills such as Proposition 71, we will move closer to a cure.

Also last November, the Illinois legislature defeated a bill that would have made embryonic stem cell research legal in the state. H.B. 3589, also known as the Ronald Reagan Biomedical Research Act, lost by one vote in the Illinois Senate after passing by only a few votes in the Illinois House in March 2003. The bill was amended a number of times on the day it came up for a vote, but in the end it could not attract enough support.

Despite the failure of H.B. 3589, embryonic stem cell research continues to be discussed and debated in Illinois. In fact, the state comptroller is seeking to place a referendum on the 2006 state ballot which would tax elective plastic surgery procedures to help pay for this type of research in Illinois.

Still, H.B. 3589's defeat is counted as a victory by those who oppose embryonic stem cell research. While the bill's defeat does not mean this type of research is prohibited in the state, it does mean that its supporters will have to start fresh and introduce a new bill in the 2005 Illinois legislative session.