Abstract
The press conference was held at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. We were escorted to the press room, where we were given heart-healthy box lunches, water, and healthy fruit drinks. While awaiting Ms. Obama's arrival, we had ample time to network. I met the editor of the health section of Newsweek; the CEO of Dairy Management, a company that represents the American Dairy Association and the National Dairy Council; the vice president of operations for the Washington YMCA; the deputy director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; a faculty member from the University of Vermont; and two National Football League players from Florida. As you can tell, it was a diverse group of individuals and agencies, but all who attended had an interest in the topic about which Ms. Obama has focused her attention.
I applaud and appreciate Ms. Obama's choice for her personal cause as the first lady. Her interest in the childhood obesity epidemic has shone a spotlight on this issue and hastened raising it to prominence in health policy. Ms. Obama explained the many reasons the United States is at a point where 20% of its children are overweight and/or obese. She mentioned the following:
The sprawling urban and suburban aspects of our cities, making walking from one place to another a lost art Increased food portion size Decreased stores that sell fresh produce and healthy foods in urban areas The increase in fast food and processed food—usually lower priced but high in caloric and fat content The rise of sugar-sweetened beverages, both in schools and in homes The lack of safe places for children to run and play The decrease or nonexistence of physical education in schools The rise in purchasing high-calorie lunches at school An increased number of children who are not monitored when they arrive home from school
Ms. Obama then turned her attention to some solutions. She advocated for the Let's Move! campaign, explaining the solution to childhood obesity should not be legislated but is rather something each of us can help change. 1 The vision of Let's Move! is to solve the epidemic of childhood obesity within a generation. This is defined as returning to a childhood obesity rate of just 5% by 2030, which was the rate before childhood obesity first began to rise in the late 1970s. Let's Move! advocates giving parents the support and tools they need to make healthy food choices, improving the quality of food in schools, helping children to be more physically active, and making healthy, affordable food available in every part of our country.
In February 2010, Michelle Obama launched the Let's Move! campaign. In conjunction with this effort, President Barack Obama established the Task Force on Childhood Obesity to develop and implement an interagency plan that details a coordinated strategy, identifies key benchmarks, and outlines an action plan. In total, the report presents a series of 70 specific recommendations, many of which can be implemented right away.
At the press conference, Ms. Obama said she is communicating with and encouraging action on the parts of community, state, and federal agencies like the YMCA and National Institute of Child Health; private industry like dairy farmers; sports figures like NFL players; health care providers and educators; and the media. A believer in integrating physical activities into schools and after-school events, Ms. Obama spoke of the work professional football players have accomplished that inspires children to move and play, burning calories and expending energy.
The press conference kicked off Ms. Obama's recent cover story on childhood obesity for Newsweek magazine. In the article entitled “Feed Your Children Well: My Fight against Childhood Obesity”, 2 she pens, “And let's be honest with ourselves: our kids didn't do this to themselves. Our kids don't decide what's served in the school cafeteria or whether there's time for gym class or recess. Our kids don't choose to make food products with tons of sugar and sodium in supersize portions, and then have those products marketed to them everywhere they turn. And no matter how much they beg for fast food and candy, our kids shouldn't be the ones calling the shots at dinnertime. We're in charge. We make these decisions.”
The First Lady explains that the solution to childhood obesity rests in the hands of parents and concerned adults, rather than legislation and executive orders, and writes, “Instead, it's about what all of us can do to help our kids lead active, healthy lives: parents making healthier choices for their families; mayors and governors doing their part to build healthier cities and states; and the private sector doing its part as well—from food manufacturers offering healthier options to retailers understanding that what's good for kids and families can be good for businesses too”. 2 Ms. Obama was expert in not pointing her finger at one particular cause of the childhood obesity problem, but rather tried to involve everyone in the solutions.
For the complete transcript of the interview, visit http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2010/03/michelle_obama_at_newsweek_obe.html. 3
Our day in Washington was truly a day I will never forget. I have lived through many first ladies, including Mamie Eisenhower, Jackie Kennedy, Lady Bird Johnson, Pat Nixon, Betty Ford, Rosalynn Carter, Nancy Reagan, Barbara Bush, Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush, and now Michelle Obama. No matter how you lean politically, to be able to hear a first lady up close and personal is a special moment, especially when you share her cause and know it is vital to the health and future of our children and the nation.