Springfield Standard

Rep. Eric Burlison, who represents Missouri’s 7th district in the U.S. Congress, used his social media account on August 5, 2025 to address concerns about rising childhood obesity rates and changes in national fitness programs for youth.

In a post made at 16:35 UTC, Burlison stated, " THREAD: Childhood obesity in the U.S. has skyrocketed — with a 150% increase in extremely severe obesity among kids ages 2–19 over the last 20 years." In another tweet posted one second later, he criticized a shift in federal policy from more competitive standards to broader wellness approaches. Burlison wrote, "In 2012, the Obama administration inexplicably scrapped the original Presidential Fitness Test—ending decades of competition, standards, and accountability. In its place? A “holistic” wellness program that handed out awards just for showing up."

He further provided historical context by referencing the origins of federal youth fitness initiatives: "In 1956, President Eisenhower created the President’s Council on Youth Fitness after learning U.S. children were falling behind physically. It led to the Presidential Fitness Test, a program generations of students grew up with."

Burlison is currently serving his first term as a member of Congress after replacing Billy Long in 2023. He previously served in both chambers of Missouri's legislature—the House from 2009 to 2017 and Senate from 2019 to 2023—and was born and raised in Springfield before settling in Ozark.