| First Lady’s Move Against Childhood Obesity |
| Friday, 12 February 2010 17:27 | |||
 When we heard, then saw the write-ups about First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign to be launched as a concerted fight against childhood obesity, it was music to our ears here at the Healthy Newspaper.
On a much smaller scale we entered the fray ourselves, back in the mid-90’s, when we were employed by the United Soybean Board to introduce soyfoods and soy enhanced foods into the daily menus of a selected group of primary schools located across the country. The object was to see that children were provided healthier entrees containing less fat, while still receiving the protein their growing bodies needed – and to do a little educating at the same time. Working with the principals and food service directors of these schools, spread from Baltimore to Sacramento – was a labor of love. Never before or since have I personally been engaged with a more cooperative group, which made our job easier and that much more fun. Over the next seven years we made a measurable dent in the problem, working with teachers, parents, administrators and of course the food service people – to not only try and get better and more healthy foods (that also tasted good) to the children we were targeting, but to instill in them at an early age the importance of eating the right foods, plus initiating an ongoing campaign of regular exercise (based on age, gender and physical condition.) We also put in place a mini-program of how to deal with the delicate and psychological issue of working with a child who was already overweight – and how the professionals working with these children could help them reverse the problem, while steering them through difficult seas. Seeing that the First Lady had noted in her approach the involvement of families and communities made us realize she’s off on the right foot. But she’s going to need the right kind of help too – because a program with the sweeping potential of this one can’t be bogged down with hidden agendas, posturing, hot air, “thrown” money and empty promises. It requires real work. Our national program came to an end when our client/sponsor decided to move on to other endeavors. As we could, and on an even smaller scale, we’ve kept up the fight. In the years that have followed, we’ve noticed how several large organizations have come forward with money and rhetoric, making statements about how they’re going to solve the childhood obesity problem in this country; but their intentions, however honorable, disappeared when the smoke cleared, with time and funds wasted and nothing of substance occurring. Meanwhile, our kids got fatter. This is why we’ve winced after noticing the reporting of several companies and groups scrambling over each other to be among the first to endorse the First Lady’s program. If I was on the team, and speaking historically – I would suggest they put their money and their physical selves where their mouths are. If they really want to help make a difference, it’s time for less hot air and more sweat. Although the word is over-used in descriptive phrasing, childhood obesity is a true epidemic, and if not reversed will have a monumental impact on the future cost of healthcare, not to mention a greater onset of serious and debilitating diseases such as diabetes and heart disease among our younger generation. Many of you I’m sure have heard the somber statement that this generation coming up may be the first in the past 200 years that will have a shorter lifespan than their parents. Let’s do everything we can to make this a non event. I would hope that First Lady Obama’s program, coming as it is from the top, is well-planned, run by clear thinkers, and on point. Like everything else we Americans have planned and executed over the course of our history, a successful program won’t be perfect; but with a little help, it can show progress.
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