First lady Michelle Obama
appealed to the nation's governors today for help in reducing childhood obesity, telling them that they have a moral and financial imperative to act. Obama seeks support from leaders of both parties and expressed respect for the influence of the states.
The first lady has chosen what she hopes will be her legacy for the nation--the "Let's Move"
campaign to curb childhood obesity. About two-thirds of American adults, and about a third of American children, are overweight or obese.
As
articulated over the past several months, the first lady's campaign has four parts:
- Helping parents make better food choices;
- Serving healthier food in school vending machines and lunch lines;
- Making healthy food more available and affordable; and
- Encouraging children to exercise more.
The
National Campaign for Play, organized by national non-profit KaBoom! and supported by the Columbia Play Commission, has been endorsed by Obama as a partner dedicated to bringing play back into the lives of America's children. Play makes children happier, fitter, smarter, and more socially adept and creative both here and now and in the future.
.jpg)