Washington: First Lady Michelle Obama has
teamed up with athletes, farmers, doctors and the media to
confront the childhood obesity "epidemic" that affects a
staggering one in three American youngsters.
"We`re determined to finally take on one of the most
serious threats to their future, and that`s the epidemic of
childhood obesity in America today," the first lady said at
the launch of the "Let`s Move" campaign.
The initiative aims to rally families, communities,
schools, urban planners, politicians and the media to "solve
the problem of childhood obesity in a generation so that
children born today will reach adulthood at a healthy
weight."
She pointed to the urgency of taking action today, at
a time when there are already three times more obese children
in the United States than 30 years ago.
Because of obesity and the many illnesses and chronic
conditions it spawns, health experts have predicted that this
generation of American children could have shorter lifespans
than their parents, said TV personality Tiki Barber, a
former professional American football star.
American Academy of Pediatrics president Judith
Palfrey said she was alarmed at the massive increase in the
number of overweight and obese children over the past few
decades, thanks to a lack of exercise and a diet heavy on fat
and sugar but light on fresh fruits and vegetables.
-PTI
