Let’s Move — Michelle Obama’s Campaign Against Childhood Obesity
It may sound impossible, but Michelle Obama, the self-proclaimed “Mom-In-Chief“, has made it her goal to end childhood obesity within a generation. Â (You can read the official memorandum here). Though, really, her campaign began long before the official Let’s Move program. Â She reinstated the White House garden – the first since seen since Elanor Roosevelt was there during WWII- as a way of showing the nation how easy it was to have healthy and fresh foods in hand. Â She invited schoolchildren to tour and help tend the garden to emphasize the importance of good nutrition for our youth. Â In a similar vain, she also declared it her mission to improve school lunches across the nation.
In all, she’s pushed health and nutrition to the forefront of our nation’s conscious since she stepped into the Oval Office. Uh-hem, since her husband stepped in the Oval Office. Â In any case, she’s certainly creating hope that the rise in childhood obesity will not continue and making tangible change to that effect on her own.
Let’s Move has an ambitious goal, but also an equally impressive amount of support from governmental bodies, businesses, and local  non-profits all across the nation:
The Let’s Move campaign will combat the epidemic of childhood obesity through a comprehensive approach that builds on effective strategies, and mobilizes public and private sector resources. Let’s Move will engage every sector impacting the health of children to achieve the national goal, and will provide schools, families and communities simple tools to help kids be more active, eat better, and get healthy.
To support Let’s Move and facilitate and coordinate partnerships with States, communities, and the non-profit and for-profit private sectors, the nation’s leading children’s health foundations have come together to create a new independent foundation – the Partnership for a Healthier America – which will accelerate existing efforts addressing childhood obesity and facilitate new commitments towards the national goal of solving childhood obesity within a generation.
This task force is combating childhood obesity in four key areas simultaneously: helping parents make healthy family decisions, Â improving the nutritiousness of food available in schools (where children routinely consume half of their calories), promoting physical activity, and ensuring access to healthy and affordable foods. Â This blog has detailed how difficult it is for some poorer families in poorer neighborhoods to access fresh fruits and vegetables.
I’d say this task force has a lot on its plate. But, Let’s Move has a powerhouse of leaders who support and believe in the importance of its mission.  In a world that seems to be at a standstill when it comes to any progressive policy, we could certainly use some superheros.  Could these be the  new Fantastic 4?
"First lady Michelle Obama walks through the White House east colonnade with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, left, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, second from right, and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, as they meet regarding the childhood obesity initiative." By Jack Gruber, USA TODAY
February 27, 2010
Tags: change, heroes, Michelle Obama, moms, nutrition, obesity Posted in: Health, Politics
8 Responses
Obesity is really an epidemic these days. People have become very lazy and does not want to exercise anymore. I do a lot of jogging and brisk walking everyday just to be fit and healthy.
here in Philippines, obesity is also becoming a problem. More and more children are getting obese due to a lifestyle that is not fully of physical activities. most kids just wants to watch TV, play computer games and surf the net.
Obesity and diabetes are becoming more and more of a problem these days. Actually it is easy to avoid being overweight by just having the proper diet and exercise.
more people are becoming obese these days because of too much junk food and too much sugar in snacks and fast foods. `
Michelle Obama is such a wonderful woman. I believe that she would be an excellent first lady…
i like michelle obama coz she is very down to earth person
obesity kills people, lots of diseases are triggered by obesity
obesity has really gone out of hand, i think that we should do some diet modification for all of us
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