by Tom Henderson <http://www.parentdish.com/bloggers/tom-henderson/>
(Subscribe to Tom Henderson's posts) <http://www.parentdish.com/bloggers/tomhenderson/rss.xml> Jan 22nd 2010 10:00AM
Michelle Obama wants you to know she understands the lure of the pizza.
"It wasn't that long ago that I was juggling a full-time job with the round-the-clock role of
being a mom," she tells reporters. "And there were plenty of times when after a long day
at work, when the fridge was empty and the kids were hungry, that I just ordered that
pizza."
Or maybe she took the kids out for burgers. "It was cheap and quick," she says.
Addressing reporters at a meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors last week, the first
lady now says choosing expediency over nutrition is one reason why 32 percent of
America's children and adolescents are overweight
<http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/weightloss/2010-01-20-michelle-obamaobesity_N.htm> .
She wants to change that. In fact, USA Today reports, she wants the fight against
childhood obesity to be her legacy as first lady.
Obama tells the press that fight will include partnerships between the administration and
local governments to provide more nutritious food in schools, create opportunities for
kids to be more physically active and give communities greater access to affordable,
healthy food.
She has already used the planting of vegetables in the White House garden to call
attention to the problem.
And the problem is huge. "The statistics never fail to take my breath away," Obama tells
USA Today.
Weight issues put children at risk for high cholesterol, diabetes and other ailments, while
lowering their self esteem.
"If you can get kids into healthier eating habits when they are younger, their weight may
self-correct," Donna Ryan, president of the Obesity Society, a group of weightmanagement researchers and professionals, tells USA Today.
Margo Wootan, the director of nutrition policy for the Center for Science in the Public
Interest <http://www.cspinet.org/> , tells USA Today having the first lady address the
problem could really help.
"The first lady not only brings the weight of the White House, but she also understands
this issue as a parent," Wootan tells the paper.
Obama tells USA Today she took daughters Sasha and Malia
<http://www.parentdish.com/2009/03/02/sasha-and-malia-new-home-same-rules/> on a
few too many trips through the drive-through.
"It got to the point where our pediatrician had to tap me on the shoulder and say, 'You
know, you might want to consider making some changes in your family's diet,' " she
adds.
Parents "desperately want to do what's right," the first lady tells USA Today. But
numerous forces are allied against them. Local markets that sell fresh produce may be
hard to find. Physical education and recreation programs at schools may have been cut.
"This isn't the kind of problem that can be solved in one year, or even one
administration," Obama tells USA Today. "But make no mistake about it. This problem
can be solved.
"We don't need to wait for some new invention or discovery to make this happen. This
doesn't require fancy tools or technologies. We have everything we need right now. We
have the information. We have the ideas. And we have the desire to start solving
America's childhood obesity problem. The only question is whether we have the will."
Carrie Kroll
Director of Advocacy and Health Policy
Texas Pediatric Society
401 West 15th, Ste 682
Austin, Texas 78701
512.370.1516