PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Kelly Moltzen, Founding Co-convener of Interfaith Public Health Network (IPHN)
2:20:38
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114 sec
Kelly Moltzen, a registered dietitian and founding co-convener of the Interfaith Public Health Network (IPHN), testifies in support of Intro 641, which would require nutrition standards for kids' meals in NYC restaurants. She emphasizes the alarming rates of obesity among NYC children, particularly in marginalized communities, and the potential of the bill to improve health equity.
- IPHN has coordinated community advocacy for Intro 641 with partners like the Center for Science in the Public Interest and the American Heart Association.
- Moltzen highlights that 20% of NYC children have obesity, with higher rates in marginalized neighborhoods.
- She stresses the importance of implementation and IPHN's commitment to supporting the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in developing an effective plan for restaurants.
Kelly Moltzen
2:20:38
Thank you, chair this one.
2:20:41
Thank you, chair Schellman and members of the council health committee for the opportunity to testify here today.
2:20:46
My name is Kelly Moulson, and I am a registered dietitian and founding co convener of the Interfaith Public Health Network, or IPHN.
2:20:53
IPHN builds bridges between faith communities and public health experts to promote a holistic public health awareness, cultivate partnerships to transform public health, and advocate for systems and policies that support health and well-being for all.
2:21:06
I helped to launch IPHN after years of striving to achieve health equity in the Bronx and have coordinated efforts to increase access to and consumption of healthy foods in schools, bodegas, restaurants, and other community settings.
2:21:18
Towards that end, IPHN has been proud to help coordinate the community advocacy response for intro 641 with their colleagues at Center For Science in the Public Interest and the American Heart Association.
2:21:29
The sad reality is that children born today are expected to have shorter lifetimes than their parents.
2:21:34
This goes against the trajectory of human history, is unnatural, and flies against wisdom cultivated over millennia that enabled human beings to
Eloisa Trinidad
2:21:41
extend their lifetimes by accessing nutritious food.
Kelly Moltzen
2:21:41
Diet related diseases such as obesity, lifetimes by accessing nutritious food.
2:21:44
Diet related diseases such as obesity are affecting our city's children, particularly youth of color, at alarming rates, with 20% of children in New York City having obesity and double that number having overweight or obesity, with higher rates in marginalized neighborhoods across the 5 boroughs.
2:21:59
The nutrition standards, which would be required by intro 641, can begin to reverse this trend and work towards health equity by providing more fresh, healthy options for kids' meals in New York City restaurants.
2:22:10
Moreover, implementation of the bill will be a critical part of the process of achieving this goal.
2:22:14
IPHN is committed to working with our partners to support the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in establishing an implementation plan that works for New York City restaurants.
2:22:23
We appreciate your time and consideration of this important request to pass intro 641 and increase nutrition options in kids meals in New York City restaurants.
2:22:31
Thank you.
Lynn Schulman
2:22:32
Thank you, doctor Patel.
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Testimony by Ed Chinery, Associate Rector and Executive Director of Church of the Ascension and Ascension Outreach Incorporated
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Testimony by Dr. Sanjivan Patel, Chairman of Department of Pediatrics at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, on Nutrition Standards for Kids' Meals
