Lets Move

Let's Move!

America's first lady, Michelle Obama, has launched a nationwide campaign to eliminate childhood obesity. Her campaign is called Let's Move!.

The first lady's brand new campaign was unveiled on February 9, 2010. That same day she appeared on Larry King live on CNN promoting her health agenda aimed at reversing the upward trend of childhood obesity within one generation.

Mr. and Mrs. Obama lead by example. They have always believed in living a healthy lifestyle. Naturally they are good role models for their two daughters. And as they are America's first couple, they are setting a very good example for America's parents and their children.lets move

One particular incident occured which made Mrs. Obama realize that the family had become a little too lax regarding eating healthy. A family doctor discovered that one of the Obama girl's BMI (body mass index) was up slightly. The Obama's attributed that to too much fast foods during the presidential campaign.

The Obama's went home and made small changes in their meal plan. The changes included smaller meal portions, more home cooked meals, a dessert ban on weekdays and substituting sugary drinks with water, milk and fresh squeezed juices.

The Let's Move! campaign is supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the New York Yankees, school lunch programs, and grocery store owners. lets move

Let's Move! is proposing:

• $400 million in tax credits to get healthy alternatives into areas where there aren't currently large grocery stores, and where residents tend to patronize convenience stores
• a foundation to oversee the campaign
• $25 million for schools to renovate kitchens in order to make them more suitable for healthy foods (better food storage, less deep fryers)
• a recommendation for at least one hour of physical activity per day per child

Kids In Danger

Our children are in danger--at risk! A study looked at children and obesity rates beginning in the mid-1970s to 2003-2004. The table below shows the sobering statistics. Not only have they increased, but in most cases, have more than doubled!

Looking at the table we see that between the ages 2 through 5 and 6 through 11, obesity rates have almost tripled! And between the ages of 12 through 19, they have more than tripled!

Obese kids or kids who are at risk of becoming obese show early signs of heart disease. And they are now experiencing other diseases once associated with adults. These include type 2 diabetes which was once known as adult-onset diabetes and non-alcoholic related fatty liver disease. lets move

What has happened in the 30 years between the mid 1970s and 2004 which caused childhood obesity to triple? The answer to that question is obvious to a fitness-minded individual like myself who has lived prior to the mid 1970s. Growing up in the '50s and '60s gives me a unique perspective on obesity. lets move

Our children's spiralling obesity rates are due to convenience and technology. The 'convenience' affects eating habits and 'technology' affects physical activity--or more appropriately--the lack thereof.

The majority of America's food production is concentrated on calorie dense and nutrient depleted products. The calories are empty coming from an abundance of sugar and artificial sweeteners and tons of trans and saturated fats.

These convenience foods (also known as processed and fast foods) make up the bulk of America's supermarkets and grocery stores. I am not only referring to the chips, candies, and baked goods, but also to the quick serve meals. These are the meals that you just open and pop into a microwave.lets move

Supermarkets have become nothing more than glorified convenience stores. In addition to convenience stores like 7-Eleven, QuickCheck, and Krauser's, almost every gas station has its own mini-mart or quick mart. (7-Eleven is international in scope and it surpasses McDonald's for the number of global outlets.)

American neighborhoods are literally dotted with fast food franchises. McDonald's, Burger King, White Castle, Wendy's, and dozens of others compete--many times within one to two blocks of each other.

Coupled with the family not sitting down at the dinner table eating together, convenience is literally decimating our youth. It fact it is rare for a typical American family to eat at home at all.

Our entire culture is stacked against our young people having a healthy lifestyle.

Technology is the second culprit in fueling our children's obesity rates. The 30 years between the mid 1970s and 2004 has seen the invention of personal computers, the internet, cell phones, video games, and 24/7 television. These technological marvels have brought our children indoors to sit and play and watch. Physical activity unfortunately is not a part of this generation. However, it was a major part of my generation.

Not only have the internet, cell phones, video games, and 24/7 television displaced outdoor activities, but our public schools have discontinued physical education, known as gym class when I was growing up, from the curriculum. It's no wonder our children are overweight.

America's 21st century culture is responsible for sabotaging our children's health.

Baby Boomers As Kids

I was born in 1951. This was before personal computers, surround sound, the internet, cell phones, video games, 24/7 television, high fructose corn syrup, trans fats, GMOs, and monosodium glutamate. Each of these devices and processed food ingredients is playing a large role in America's sedentary lifestyle.

By the way, the aforementioned items don't just affect children, but adults too. That list is by no means comprehensive.

I am not saying that my generation didn't have unhealthy foods because it did. But the sizes and portions were much smaller than they are today. Nothing was super-sized when I was growing up.

Even up until the mid '70s, there was no childhood obesity. A few months ago, I happened to catch a retro '70s program that I used to watch weekly. It was Soul Train. Soul Train was a weekly dance program like American Bandstand. lets move

I was amazed as I hadn't seen the program for over thirty years. All of the dancers were slender. None were overweight let alone obese.

This is my grammar school class picture (at left.) Notice that unlike today, no one is overweight.

I am not by any means ridiculing our children but merely pointing out the obvious differences between kids today and kids of yesteryear.

The family ate dinner together when I was coming up. The television set (yes, we eventually got one) was turned off at dinner time. And I remember walking home for lunch all the way up to high school.

My family lived within sight of a high school in the '50s and '60s. While I was still in grammar school, I remember watching the older high school kids buying their sodas and sandwiches not at a McDonald's or a Burger King, but at the corner delicatessen.

Fast food restaurants in the '50s and '60s were few and far between. And a lot which exist today, were not around then. And because high fructose corn syrup, genetically modified ingredients, and trans fatty acids were yet future, the food was healthier than comparable food today.

Although monosodium glutamate was used in food production when I was growing up, it was nowhere near the huge quantities food manufacturers use today. Monosodium glutamate has been shown to contribute to obesity.

We were a lot more active when I was growing up. For one thing, gym was part of the school's program and we had to take and pass it. This was in addition to the many sports activities.

We played outside after school. We didn't have high-tech devices to play with inside. What we ate, we quickly burned through skating, riding scooters and bicycles, playing stick and punch ball, giant steps, and countless other games that I can't even remember.

No one had to tell us, lets move. Unfortunately for children today, America's culture has changed for the worse. lets move

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