Michelle Obama to Governors: ‘Let’s Act, Let’s Move’

“They screened students’ BMIs, which was controversial. They got healthier food into their schools and required regular physical education classes. And as a result, that state was able to halt the rise of childhood obesity completely.”

If the government is serious about the obesity issue then start by modifying the food stamp program. Limit purchases to real food.. not soda, candy, cake etc.

Fighting obesity epidemic by encouraging kids exercise is great. But how about their parents? All parents who are lean or obese must also participate regular exercise. You can not force kids do something while you are not doing with your kids.

There was room for several more pictures of the Obama’s on the ABC homepage. Why isn’t there more hoopla over the obama’s. Why don’t we have their bathroom schedules? You have a long way to go before you’re as good as CBS or NBC/MSNBC. Please, I’m begging you, I want non-stop coverage of everything that contains anything about the Obama’s. When was the last time you did a good story on his brother? Or the deportation of his illegal aunt? I want to know everything!!!

The First Lady gots “back” and she working to reduce it. Good luck Michelle!

Wouldn’t it be pretty simple to just go back to the types of lunches that were served in the 60′s and 70′s before they let the pizza chains, and other fast food vendors come in and take out the soda machines? I remember healthy balanced meals when I was in school, and we ate them whether we “liked” them or not. This isn’t rocket science ….it has evolved into lazy; I venture that 80% of these kid’s parents do not know how to cook from scratch.

young_voter: agreed. And when I hear people say that there is a genetic predisposition to be fat, I just wonder why this genetic-based malady has only recently emerged and only in the USA and not other parts of the world. People are not eating properly and are not feeding their children properly. Definitely not rocket science — it’s Eating 101.

Actually, profdot, that “genetic predestination” HAS started showing up recently in other nations. Nations that tend to eat a more westernized diet (read, eat like Americans).
But I don’t think Mrs. Obama is “wasting money” any more than Mrs. Bush (Barbara, not Laura) was wasting money supporting literacy in Americans. Both issues are important problems in our society and one of the first things that has to happen to work on a solution is that attention must be brought to the problem. Something that a First Lady is in a wonderful position to do.
Yes, it’s the FOOD we’re eating that is making us fat, but — I think — for a lot of Americans they kinda think, “So what? It’s just one Big Mac.” They need to be educated to truly understand that the Big Mac they eat today will ultimately end in a stroke or heart attack, or both.
And I also agree with Paperwhite, that this must start with the parents. We can’t be doing the “do as I say, not as I do” with our kids. And — for the most part — at least with younger children — we, as parents, have a good deal of influence over what goes into our childrens mouths. AND how active they are (or aren’t.)
While I’m never going to suggest McDonalds is a healthy place to eat, they’re at least trying to do their part. For example, offering apple slices instead of fries with a meal. Now we need to start educating people as to why it’s so important that they at least start choosing the apples over the fries.

I spent my lunch money on a chocolate cream pie every day before school and I purchased this
treat from our high school snack window which was open at 7;30 AM .. and never was overweight … but then again, we never had this junk available to us at home! Yeah for the government school programs! Your tax dollars at work!

But I don’t think Mrs. Obama is “wasting money” any more than Mrs. Bush (Barbara, not Laura) was wasting money supporting literacy in Americans. Both issues are important problems in our society and one of the first things that has to happen to work on a solution is that attention must be brought to the problem. Something that a First Lady is in a wonderful position to do.
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You just don’t get it. Nothing the Republicans do is a waste of money. Everything the Democrats do is a waste of money. Did the right wing programming fail?

Kids need physical engagement and education on choosing the right foods to eat…..we educate them on sex, cigarettes and drugs. Bad food could be as “toxic” as all of the above. Good work, Mrs. Obama. It’s about time we get back to basics with our children … our future.

Not reported here, but she apparently made the statement that the WH is a “news free zone” – she doesn’t watch any news so she can make up her mind – kind of hard to do without any input – and this is a smart woman??? And, of course he signed a $10 Billion bill for her project – can’t he say “mmmm” as in million – as in, wouldn’t several hundred Million dollars to see if this has any merit be better?

jody, you can’t come up with anything better to bash the Obama’s about today?
Believe me, if I had Michelle’s arms, I’d be baring them, too!
Which doesn’t even address the question, WHY is Michelle Obama’s wardrobe of such a concern to you anyway?

Publius, I don’t think anybody is suggesting that it’s the “government’s responsibility to get kids into shape.”
But I also think it’s not the governments responsibility to get my kid OUT of shape, either.
I would never deprive a child of an occasional “mini” candy-bar. (You know, those adult-two-bite sized ones?) But the candy bars in vendo-land at schools are full size. No kid needs 528 calories from one Snicker bar. (The “fun sized” Snicker bars are 70 calories.)
And I want to be the one that decides how often, and how many, candy bars (or other “junk food treats” my kids get.
Also, studies have shown (repeatedly) that children simply learn better when their day is broken up by periods of physical activity.
Back when I was a kid, we had neighborhood schools, so we walked almost a mile to school, almost a mile home for lunch, almost a mile back to school, and almost a mile back home at the end of the school day. PLUS we had recess (for the first few grades), AND PE class all the way through 12th grade.
Now most kids ride the bus to school because they live too far away to walk, they stay at school over lunch (where they can eat nothing but junk food if they choose), and then come home to sit in front of a video game all day if their parents let them.
Health care costs in this country are skyrocketing because Americans are getting fatter. If the government wants people to get healthier and make healthier life choices, then I think they have an obligation to practice what they preach. And that means our schools need to get on-board this whole project, too.

Oh, and my typical lunch after I walked home in the middle of the day in grade school? A cup of soup and a half sandwich.

jody, Michelle Obama pays for her own clothes.
She does not (as you seem to imply) have a “dresser” (like British royalty do), that comes in every day, lays out her clothes, and dresses her.
She can dress the way she wants to, she doesn’t need to consult you before she gets dressed, and you trying to make an issue about it just shows your ignorance.

Jaylah, You are wrong. WE pay $1.5 million for her stylists!! Wake up and read about it!! Her image-makers have talked about how they needed to change her perceived image in the media…to a softer perception. You mean to tell me, you can’t see how her clothing has changed? Geez, it figures you are duped by these people.

Actually, jody, if you read anything other than comic books, you’d know that health studies have shown that smoking and being overweight have pretty much equal negative effects on health.
Michelle Obama cannot take on every single issue this country faces. Not only is there not enough time in the day to do that, but — if you start trying to take on too many causes — your message about all of them gets watered down so much they’re meaningless.
So, just like EVERY OTHER FIRST LADY THIS COUNTRY HAS EVER HAD, she has to choose the two or three issues she feels the most strongly about. Childhood obesity is one of the causes she has chosen to focus on.
It’s clear you don’t like Michelle Obama. You are entitled to your own opinion. But coming here to complain about her dress, or her choice of causes, when the article is clearly about childhood obesity and her speech to the National Governors Association about childhood obesity only — as I said — shows your ignorance.
Why don’t you turn your computer off, make yourself a big sign that says, “SMOKING IS BAD FOR YOU” and go park your butt on a busy corner. You’d do a lot more good doing that than sitting around complaining about Mrs. Obama’s wardrobe.
At any rate, I’m tired of explaining the patently obvious to you.

Kudos Ms. Obama! She came to the first grocery store with fresh foods that North Philly has had in 10 years yesterday! She recognized the work that a local N. Philly school has made over the last decade. Obesity was cut in half in comparison to the other schools in the area! Corner stores are now carrying healthy foods instead of just processed crap. I think this is an AWESOME cause to get involved with and so happy people are taking this seriously. Access to affordable healthy foods now!

When is it the states problem to stop child obesity and not the parents. This is like telling teenage girls not to get pregnant, but if you do you can collect more welfare for each kid you have. Tell cities to build more supervised play grounds and furnish the equipment for playing games.

jafo, if you’d bothered to read the article, you’d have known that this is about a speech Mrs. Obama gave to the National Governors Association.
Which, of course, would be the association that the governors of each STATE belong to.
Mrs. Obama holds absolutely no office in the United States government. She speaks only as a concerned citizen and as a parent of two children. “Washington” isn’t telling anybody anything.
Perhaps you think childhood obesity (which inevitably turns into adult obesity) is a good thing? Higher health costs and all that?

What school are you guys talken bout…cause the PUBLIC schools my children attend not only DO NOT have vending, the lunches served DO NOT include white bread any more…only wheat. And gym is still a mandatory course in elementary through high school (9th grade to receive the credit for graduation).

Let’s give our kids the future they deserve
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Eating rice and red beans?

Jesus_Allah_Budda, you are lucky to live in the school district you live in then.
I’m afraid that it’s quite true that a whole lot of schools DO have junk-food vendo-lands in them, DON’T require PE classes, and DO serve a lot of junk-type food in their school lunches.
So basically, Mrs. Obama was suggesting the type of schools your kids go to should be the standard for all schools. And I agree with her.

Oh my. I love how the haters have really stepped out.
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How can you call it hatred because I question (ridiculous) claims of creating THOUSANDS of jobs with a $400 million program?

It is so sad that today in the USA people will spend time trying to criticize the messenger rather than listen to the message.
She is making sense, admit it.
Why is it so difficult to see the light. Discussing her clothes and assistants will not solve the obese problems. Remember small minds discuss people.. big minds discuss issues. Grow Up.

Maybe he wasn’t invited!
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He probably didn’t give a rat’s ***. Actually, I doubt that she or anyone there cared about anything except getting it over with.

I would like to know why we the American people have to pay $400 million or $10 billion (read both amounts) for a first lady’s pet project. Look at the incredible amount of staff time that’s gone into making her look good –coordination with Valerie Jarriett (remarks at the Oluympics) plus with those planning Gov meetings, plus all kinds of other coordination, because God forbid a first lady could just do her thing without it being a major hoo-haw. No, all Obama ventures must be first, best, biggest, whatever, even when they fail.
I have no quarrel with her taking this up. I have MAJOR issues with us paying for it. We did not elect her.
WOuld love to know how this endeavor compares, staff and money-wise, with other First Lady projects.
Go to it ABC!

Note to All:
West Virginia is not part of Virginia.

the way her husband is handling the economy, losing weight ain’t gonna be hard for anyone.
Posted by: justj joey | Feb 21, 2010 4:15:11 PM
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“I find it interesting that you have a lot of the Republicans running around, and pushing back on the stimulus money and saying, ‘This doesn’t create any new job,’” said Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. “And then they go out and do the photo ops, posing with the big check and they say: ‘Isn’t this great, look at the kind of money I’ve provided for the state and this is money to create jobs, and this has created 10,000 new jobs, this has created 20,000 news jobs, and all those kinds of things.’ It doesn’t match up.”
It’s hypocrisy, said host Terry Moran. “Exactly,” Schwarzenegger replied.
“Anyone that says this hasn’t created a job, they should talk to the 150,000 people getting jobs in California,” he added, “from the private sector and also from the public sector.”

You know, I really do not care about your kids being overweight.
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Hogwash.

It’s funny she has an impressive education herself, but her own education had nothing to do with nutrition
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The head of an airline corporation does not have to know how to fix a jet engine.

tierra, whether obese children affect future health care costs has NOTHING to do wit MIchelle Obama’s entry into making policy and spending OUR money.
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First Lady’s typically take up particular causes and initiatives. Nancy Reagan’s major initiative was her anti-drug crusade, Laura Bush was involved in issues of concern to children and women, both nationally and internationally focused on education and women’s health. And yes, these initiatives involve financing.
Sounds to me like you’re just biased against this First Lady.

It’s so ridiculous how some people have their negative reactive system always activated each time a subject that requires a very critical attention as it affects the overall health of those involved, is shared.

Least we forget Michele and most of Washington elites KIDS go to schools (TRUE) who have FRENCH chefs…she (family) Washington hucksters ALL eat $150 KOBE beef from JAPAN and ALL organic foods!!!
If she cared so much – WHY (media didn’t cover – would make them look bad) did the Obama administration cancel VOUCHER program for D.C. kids –back to the ghetto schools for them. As for Valerie Jarret (unbelievable) Google Valerie Jarret one of our nations top TEN slum landlords.
States can’t feed – give services to the down and out – out of work and they want MILLIONS to fight FAT – give me a break. Why not take up the battle of EMPTY food pantries or thousands of thousands (including HAWAII) living in TENTS in Super Power USA.

“Folks in West Virginia have taken the lead in bringing ‘DDR’ — that’s ‘Dance, Dance Revolution’ — it’s a new video game that gets kids up and moving,” she said. “And let me tell you, I can attest to ‘Dance, Dance Revolution.’ We got it at Camp David, and it will make you sweat. And it is addictive in a very good way. The president still can’t do it.”
I LOL’ed .. a new game? No dear, it’s not a new game, been around for what, 8, 9 years now? It IS great exercise – an hour of DDR can burn up to 400 calories, help with stamina, balance, control, concentration and motivation.
It could actually be a fairly inexpensive way to bring PE back to the schools and in a way that a lot of kids would like – and adults. Yeah you sitting here reading this. Go get a console (the most expensive part granted), one of the DDR games and pad and get moving!