by Jan Lazor

Created on: July 30, 2010   Last Updated: July 31, 2010

While President Barrack Obama is overseeing two wars in the Middle East, wife Michelle declared war on childhood obesity on the home front. First Lady Obama launched her “Let’s Move” campaign early in February 2010.

The First Lady wants to wipe out childhood obesity during the next 10 years. Before the next generation takes center stage, Michelle Obama wants to reduce the health problems which typically plague overweight Americans. Ailments that generally affect people struggling to maintain a healthy weight include chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

Obama’s campaign uses a two pronged assault to combat obesity in America/s children. Healthy eating is key to helping children fight the battle of the bulge. It is a theme Obama emphasised by planting a vegetable garden on the White House lawn during the first year the family lived on Pennsylvania Avenue.

The second weapon in Michele Obama’s obesity arsenal is exercise. "Children need to get off the couch, away from televisions and computers and get moving", she said. "Exercise doesn't require costly equipment or a gym membership. A simple game of tag, an afternoon in the park or a brisk walk add up to weight loss and a healthy individual".

The Obamas are serious about the campaign to combat obesity.

President Obama signed an initiative creating the first ever Task Force on Childhood Obesity. Among its duties, the committee will review all of the nation’s food programs for children and look for ways to maximize the benefits of each program. Revamping school lunch programs to provide healthier alternatives is another a major goal of Obama’s fight against fat.

Organizations around the country are hopping on the band wagon to support Mrs. Obama’s program for better health for America’s next generation. The latest group to throw its support behind the campaign is Major League Baseball.  The group joined the fight during a skills clinic before an Orioles and Rays game at Camden Yard in Baltimore recently.

"Kids need to spend at least 60 minutes daily in active play that gets them moving", Mrs. Obama told youngsters attending the clinic. The National Football League and the Womens’ National Basketball Association are also supporters of the Obama obesity campaign.

Some groups and bloggers are critical of the “Let’s Move!” effort. Overweight children, already suffering from self-esteem issues, now have one more program spotlighting their situation, critics said.

Obesity results in increased health care costs in the United States, according to statistics released in a White House press announcement of the “Let’s Move!” program. More than $147 billion dollars a year are spent to care for  patients suffering from obesity related illness, the press release said.

Supporters for Obama’s obesity campaign outweigh naysayers. With one in three children suffering from obesity, Obama is determined to make a difference. Get up and get moving!

Learn more about this author, Jan Lazor.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.