SBOH 06-15-revised

For immediate release: December 11, 2006

Contact:
Heather Boe, State Board of Health 360-236-4104

Board to discuss menu labels, school health, and infant mortality

Wednesday, December 13, 9 a.m. –5 p.m., Hilton Seattle Airport and Conference Center, 17620 Pacific Highway South, SeaTac

At its meeting Wednesday, December 13, the Washington State Board of Health will hear from the Center for Science in the Public Interest on initiatives related to restaurant menu labeling and promoting good nutrition. The meeting will be at the Hilton Seattle Airport and Conference Center in SeaTac. The board will also hear from the restaurant industry on how they are responding to consumer interest in healthier eating. More than half of all Washington adults are either overweight or obese. Obesity rates in Washington more than doubled to 22 percent from 1990 to 2004.

The board will also develop guidance for the next draft of proposed revisions to the school rule, and discuss proposals for other board actions that would complement the rule writing. These may include recommendations to other agencies, the Governor, and the Legislature.

The board will hold a study session on infant mortality and health disparities to learn more about national and state-level trends, race and ethnic disparities, and some public health interventions. Washington State ranks sixth in the country for infant mortality but disparities exist. Combined data collected from 1995-2002 reveals that the infant mortality rate for American Indian/Alaska Natives is higher than the state’s average, and for blacks it is twice the state’s average.

More information about the meeting is posted on the Board of Health Web site (www.sboh.wa.gov/) or contact the state Board of Health office at 360-236-4104.

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The Board’s mission is to provide statewide leadership in advancing policies that protect and improve the public’s health. It does this by reviewing and monitoring the health status of all people in Washington; analyzing policies, providing guidance, and developing rules; promoting system partnerships; and encouraging public engagement in the public health system. For more information, visit the Board of Health Web site (www.sboh.wa.gov/).