Recently, first lady Michelle Obama announced a nationwide "Let's Move" campaign, the first presidential task force to combat childhood obesity. The focus is encouraging more physical activity for kids, healthier meals in schools and better access to affordable healthy food.
Recognizing the health crisis our nation faces — that many states, including Tennessee, have childhood obesity rates that exceed 30 percent — the program unites government, nonprofits and health-care providers, among others, to solve the epidemic of childhood obesity within a generation.
Curbing these rates will save children from a life of chronic, diet-related illnesses such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and asthma.Let's Move not only promotes educating children and parents about healthy living, but also suggests funding for community-based programs to increase access to healthy food and exercise opportunities and pushes for government reforms that make choosing a healthier lifestyle an easier option for children and families.