As part of a study proposed under First Lady Michelle Obama's Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act, bureaucrats from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will be required to weigh and measure children in daycare.
USDA will also collect data on the meals served in both professional and home daycare facilities, according to the Washington Free Beacon. Children's daily physical activity will be monitored to ensure each child is being active enough.
"Children will be asked to cooperate with study staff who will weigh and measure them for the Standing Height and Weight Form," the notice regarding the study said.
The study was passed in 2010 and provided higher standards for school lunches, while also working to promote healthier lifestyles.
The USDA announced Friday the "Study on Nutrition and Wellness Quality in Childcare Settings (SNAQCS)," which is an important aspect of the data since there are more than 30 million children currently enrolled in daycare, the Free Beacon reported.
"Good nutrition is a key to proper childhood development, but not enough is known about the food children are eating in childcare and related programs," the agency said. "In 2011, 32.7 million children were in a regular childcare arrangement while their parents worked or pursued other activities outside of the home, according to the U.S. Census Bureau."
In order to adhere to the standards of the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans, meals and snacks will be documented to make sure food choices allow for healthy growth and development.
The USDA said the study would collect a "broad range of data" from daycare sponsors and staff members, food preparers, children and parents, and will involve 12,472 participants, 3,000 of which will be children.
This study is important and relevant due to the rise of obesity in America.
