Yes

by Michael Viola

Created on: September 30, 2011

If you ever needed proof that there is a large segment of people who get worked up over meaningless, illogical fallacies, you wouldn’t have to go too much further than the topic we’re going to debate today. Of course, and it’s sad that I have to mention this, but neither the First Lady or the President is attempting to pass any legislation that would make it legal for the U.S. Government to determine what appears on your plate. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s really look at what the First Lady is doing with her “Let’s Move” campaign. 

Announced on February 9th, 2010, the Lets Move campaign began with the goal of “solving the challenge of childhood obesity within a generation so that children born today will reach adulthood at a healthy weight.” The campaign, though government funded, is by no means a legally binding requirement for U.S. citizens to adhere to. Rather, the campaign is a way for the First Lady to speak about something she believes very strong in- public health.

The risks of being overweight are pretty well-known at this point. Asthma, Sleep Apnea, and Diabetes are only a few of the many consequences of obesity. But even those frightening consequences pale in comparison to the frightening rates of childhood obesity that currently plagues our country. Nearly one in five children between 6-19 years old is considered obese while one in three are considered to be overweight. The epidemic has become so severe that many scientists believe that this current generation of children may in fact be the first generation of people who have significantly shorter life spans than the ones of their parents. But you probably don’t need statistics to notice the alarming trend. Just look around and you’ll notice that the obesity crisis isn’t coming because it’s already arrived. 

Unfortunately, it’s cheaper to get your standard value meal from McDonald’s than it is to get the equivalent materials from the grocery store so that you can make your own, slightly healthier, burger and fries. Promotions like the dollar menu make it that much easier to pull up to the drive-thru night after night. 

There’s also a general lack of knowledge about health in this country. Most people are relatively clueless about the effects of sugar, sodium, and fats can have on the body. Of course, these companies’s would never tell you that because they would be out of business.   

Because of this crisis, the First Lady, under the Let’s Move campaign, has sponsored events that attempt to encourage children and parents to live healthier and more active lifestyles. Now, there are those who believe the First Lady and the President are trying to impart their will on the lifestyles of American citizens. Sadly, these people miss the point completely. Our President, like him or not, is the face of the nation. He and his actions are how the world will view America. And although the First Lady holds no office or has no official legal command, she too is the highest representative of America.  Their tackling of Childhood Obesity is important because, whether or not you agree with their policies, when they talk people listen. And are you really willing to say that we don’t have an obesity crisis? 

So yes, the First Lady may occasionally call for citizens to pick-up one less French fry and go for a run, but the beauty of this country is that you don’t have to if you don’t want to. Go enjoy your Burger King and McDonalds, but don’t denigrate the First Lady for providing a framework in which future generations can have the choice to be happier and healthier. 

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