Michelle Obama Announces Let's Move to Battle Childhood Obesity

First Lady Michelle Obama introduced the White House endorsed 'Let's Move' program on February 9, 2010 in a live broadcast that aired on WhiteHouse.gov. Let's Move is a massive government effort to battle childhood obesity. Obama stated in a press conference that the goal of the program is to reverse the trend toward childhood obesity in one generation.

Obama stated that the rate of childhood obesity has nearly tripled over the past three decades, an alarming rate. The First Lady also stated that one third of the nation's children are overweight or obese. Childhood obesity can lead to major health issues, including high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.

In her statement, Michelle Obama talked about when she was a child the family eating patterns were much different and healthier, with less fast foods and more vegetables. She also talked about how schools required students to play outside for recess and to take physical education.

It would be simple to say that parents and schools should make healthy meals available for children and that children should get exercise at playtime. Apparently it takes a government initiative to educate the public about healthy living habits.

The Let's Move program is an initiative to educate the public about healthy nutrition and exercise. Obama is asking parents, schools and communities to get involved in the program. Let's Move aims to help people understand the importance of healthy nutrition instead of fast food meals. The program raises the public awareness of the importance of even small changes in nutrition and physical activity levels.

The Let's Move website will feature a tool to help families measure progress and help people keep on track. This tool should help motivate families to stay on a healthy program. This will also offer tools and information to help parents make healthy choices.

Food manufacturers will be asked to include easy to understand information about products on the food labels, so that parents can have a better understanding of the food they are putting on the table. The American Association of Pediatrics will encourage doctors to measure BMI for children and make parents aware of potential problems.

The program aims to update the Childhood Nutrition Act to improve school meal programs. Should should help ensure that kids get healthy nutrition at the school meals that parents do not have control over. This requires that food service workers and school administration should work together to provide healthy meals.

Let's Move wants to eliminate what are called food deserts in America Food deserts are regions where healthy food options are unavailable, often due to urban sprawl.

The importance of physical activity in emphasized in the program. Let's Move recommends that children get 60 minutes of active play daily. The program will seek ways to increase activity levels for children.

The Let's Move program, while worthy, sounds like a massive effort to get people to adopt the healthy habits. The program spotlights the need for proper diet and exercise, lifestyle habits that health experts have been recommending for years.

Resources:
WhiteHouse.gov
Live Broadcast of Let's Move Announcement by Michelle Obama on WhiteHouse.com
CNN Larry KIng Live interview with Michelle Obama
National Institute of Health (NIH)

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