Michelle Obama Leads Campaign Against Obesity

President Obama signed a memorandum February 9, 2010, creating a Task Force on Childhood Obesity to support the First Lady’s “Let’s Move” campaign, aimed at ending childhood obesity in the United States within one generation. 

From the New York Times:

. . . The much-anticipated “Let’s Move’’ campaign, nearly a year in the making, marks the first lady’s official debut in a high-profile powerful policy role, and it was clear that Mrs. Obama has a broad vision for it. The White House has secured the cooperation of food industry executives, who have pledged to reduce the amount of sugar in school lunches, and beverage makers who promise to more clearly label their sugary drinks. The American Academy of Pediatrics announced that, from now on, it will encourage its members to measure the body mass index, an indicator of obesity, of their young patients.

The memorandum notes:

Nearly one third of children in America are overweight or obese -- a rate that has tripled in adolescents and more than doubled in younger children since 1980.  One third of all individuals born in the year 2000 or later will eventually suffer from diabetes over the course of their lifetime, while too many others will face chronic obesity-related health problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, and asthma.  Without effective intervention, many more children will endure serious illnesses that will put a strain on our health-care system. We must act now to improve the health of our Nation's children and avoid spending billions of dollars treating preventable disease.

The President’s memorandum grants The Task Force 90 days to develop an interagency plan of action to achieve its objectives.

This post was contributed by William Mitchell College of Law student Adam Brady.  Mr. Brady is a student of Professor Donna M. Byrne.