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When First Lady Michelle Obama sets her mind to something, she’s not easily dissuaded. That’s a good thing, since she has embraced as her issue a campaign to eliminate childhood obesity within one generation. The launch of this major push came in early February 2010 as President Barack Obama, with the First Lady by his side, signed an executive memorandum in the Oval Office of the White House, officially putting in place an “obesity plan of action.”

The presidential memorandum sets in motion a 90-day plan that “provides optimal cooperation” among federal agencies to combat the epidemic of obesity plaguing America. This is a great first start, especially to galvanize the public into action, but to bring it all home means each of us has to take on a lot more responsibility with our own families.

Childhood Obesity a Major Threat

The First Lady targets childhood obesity one of the greatest threats to this nation’s health and economy. The facts are pretty sobering, indicative of the magnitude of the challenge ahead.

• Over the last three decades, childhood obesity rates in the United States have tripled. About one in three children and adolescents today is either obese or overweight.

• According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/index.html), 32 percent of children and adolescents are overweight. That’s 25 million kids at risk.

• CDC figures show that 20 percent of children 6 to 11 and 18 percent of adolescents aged 12 to 19 are obese.

• Childhood obesity and obesity-related diseases cost the U.S. $150 billion annually.

• Overweight children are at higher risk for weight-related health problems such as high cholesterol and diabetes and of becoming obese adults.

• Illnesses associated with obesity include heart disease, some cancers, and type 2 diabetes.

• Because of these threats, children in the U.S. today are predicted to live shorter and less healthy lives than their parents. A 2005 study found that obese children may live 2 to 5 years less than their parents due to the disease.

“Let’s Move” Campaign Gets in Gear

Michelle Obama, the self-described “mom in chief,” launched the “Let’s Move” (http://www.letsmove.gov/) campaign to help other parents, like her, deal with the national crisis of childhood obesity. That’s not to say that either of the Obama’s two children, daughters Malia, 11, and Sasha, 8, is overweight or obese. But the First Lady, according to an interview she gave to USA Today, said she became aware of the importance of childhood nutrition when a visit to the girls’ pediatrician in Chicago revealed some weight fluctuations that the physician found troubling.

That began a push within the Obama household to eat more healthy meals, as well as to bring a balance of more exercise and physical activity into the family’s lifestyle. Again, this is not to say they weren’t active, but, like most American families, the focus wasn’t necessarily on the right balance between nutrition and physical exercise.

Once the Obama’s were ensconced in the White House, the First Lady started an organic garden. As she tells it, “The garden was an important first step – just sort of exploring the ideas around nutrition and children.” That organic garden helped grow the idea, and was instrumental in leading to the First Lady to select childhood obesity as her issue.

Obesity Complications

Obesity carries with it the added weight of other complications. While some are physical, others are psychological. They are all nonetheless problems that rob children of their full potential. These include:

• Poor self-esteem
• Depression
• Increased pressure in the brain, causing headaches and blurred or double vision
• Problems in the bones and joints, including:

o Pain in weight-bearing joints (lower back, knees, hips, and feet)
o Flat feet
o Dislocated growth plate in the hip socket
o Bowed knees

• Early puberty

o In girls, this includes polycystic ovarian syndrome
o Changes in hormone levels cause irregular menstrual cycles, induce ovarian cysts, produce excessive hair growth on the upper lip, chin, chest and abdomen

• Digestive tract

o Acid reflux
o Constipation
o Fatty liver
o Gallstones

• Heart and blood vessels

o Abnormal blood clotting
o Chronic inflammation that damages blood vessels
o High blood pressure
o High LDL (bad cholesterol)
o Low HDL (good cholesterol)
o High triglycerides (other body fats)

• Lungs

o Asthma
o Shortness of breath during exertion
o Sleep apnea

• Type 2 diabetes – a condition in which the body doesn’t use insulin properly or is unable to make sufficient insulin

Four Pillars of the Campaign

Like any sturdy foundation, the campaign to eliminate childhood obesity is supported by solid pillars. In this case, there are four.

1. Improving school meal quality – The Child Nutrition Act, which is currently being rewritten – the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act – (http://frac.org/pdf/frac101_child_wic_actprimer.pdf) is the foundation of the national school meals program which, in conjunction with other food programs, feeds a total of 31 million children a day. Improving school meal quality means the revised Child Nutrition Act will have a greater emphasis on high quality and accessibility of foods.

2. Informing parents and the public about exercise and nutrition in general – Already, the soft drink and fast food companies have said they’ll commit to working with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (http://www.fda.gov/) to create labeling that is clear and has customer-friendly nutrition and calorie content. Pediatricians are also working with media consultants to create campaigns to build public awareness.

3. Accessible and affordable healthier foods – Some 23.5 million Americans (including 6.5 million children) live in areas that are so-called “food deserts.” These are areas where healthy foods aren’t available, where supermarkets or grocery stores either don’t exist or where fresh produce and healthy foods are scarce.

4. Emphasis on physical education – Research shows that today’s kids spend more than 7 hours in front of the television, computers, on their cell phones, and/or playing video games. Another statistic that’s troubling is that only one high school student in three reaches the recommended physical activity level per day. Children and adolescents need at least one hour a day of physical activity, according to the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (http://www.aahperd.org/naspe/).

Change Begins at Home

Public service announcements and media campaigns to raise awareness can put the issue of childhood obesity front and center in the minds of the American people, but it takes more than that for the problem to be resolved. While the goal of eliminating childhood obesity in one generation seems like an idea that maybe can be accomplished, or that it’s too big a task, nothing will happen until parents start making the important changes at home that affect their own children.

It isn’t someone else’s problem. This is a problem that affects every American. Look in the mirror tomorrow morning when you get up. Are your own pants fitting a bit too snugly? How long has it been since you carefully monitored your weight? How physically active are you? The point is that, as parents, we are supposed to be role models. How we behave, the kinds of foods we prepare and eat, and the amount and kind of physical activity we are involved in – all of these things matter when it comes to our children.

Children are sponges. They soak up what’s around them. In order for them to develop healthier eating habits and to engage in more rigorous physical activity, they need direction, and they need someone to show them the way.

Moms and dads today are extraordinarily busy with work, chores, errands, making sure the children’s needs are taken care of and the business of daily living. At the end of a very long and chaotic day filled with stresses and demands, it’s too easy to pick up pizza or takeout and plunk it on the table for an evening meal. Worse yet, the kids and adults grab a slice and go sit by the TV or in front of the computer or video game and there’s no exchange of conversation around the dinner table. Don’t fall into that habit. The next time your kids say, “Let’s have pizza,” or ask for candy or burgers and fries or fattening desserts for dinner, put your foot down. After all, you are the parent. You are the one who has the responsibility to make the decisions. That’s why they call it parenting. The job comes with built-in duties.

Here are some tips to help make food choices more exciting, and exercise more appealing:

• Enlist the children’s help in creating healthy meals. – Together, cut out appetizing pictures from cooking magazines or the Sunday food section. Select a recipe or menu that you want to try and draw up a shopping list for the necessary ingredients.

• Bring the children along to the supermarket. – Part of the excitement of putting together a healthy meal is buying the freshest ingredients you can. The children need to learn how to select fresh fruits and vegetables, what to look for in meat, fish and poultry, how to check expiration dates. Frequent the farmer’s markets and whole foods or healthy foods stores to get produce that’s organic and locally grown.

• Cook together as a family. – Everyone should get in on the act. Cooking is actually a lot of fun – okay, clean-up isn’t so much fun, but with many hands, that’s quickly over with. The whole idea is to jazz up the enthusiasm so that you and your children are excited about preparing the meal, serving it, and eating it – as a family.

• Allow the kids to prepare a special meal. – Once you feel they’re adept enough and okay to proceed with a little supervision, allow your kids to prepare a special meal for you, the parents. Depending on their ages, this may be more simple fare – a fruit platter or vegetable tray. Older children can tackle more challenging meals – but not too challenging. You don’t want them to feel overwhelmed and get discouraged. Be sure to praise their efforts, especially when they include the healthy food elements in the meal.

• Watch cooking shows. – It’s quite amazing the number of cooking shows now on TV, both basic and cable channels. Cooking has become true entertainment, and the chefs are the stars. In between other activities, or during a lull in the day or evening, sit down with your kids and watch a favorite cooking show. Pay special attention to those that herald the benefits of the freshest produce, meats, fish, poultry and dairy. That’s the kind of knowledge you want your children to absorb. By watching someone else create delicious and nutritious meals, it’s not something you’re telling them. They can see it for themselves. You’ll be surprised how much information they’ll retain just from watching these programs.

• Grow your own garden. – Who doesn’t love getting down in the dirt? We all did as a child, although it usually meant playing with toy cars and dolls and not a garden. But gardening is fun, and it can be shared by all members of the family. Designate an area of the yard, or ask a neighbor if you can use some of their space, or even get together and plant in a community garden, and create your own garden. Plant a good variety of vegetables and fruits, but be sure that they’re appropriate for your growing area. Any good nursery or garden center has experts who will be willing to help you figure out what you need. This may mean amending the soil, buying a drip irrigation sprinkler, getting some hand trowels and watering cans, but, hey, that’s all part of the fun. Don’t forget the seeds or flats! Planting from seed is the least expensive, but very rewarding. Planting vegetables already started and available in flats means you’ll be able to see your plants taking off earlier – and this may be a good strategy, especially for younger children who tend to be a bit more impatient. As the fruits and vegetables mature, incorporate them into the family meals. Again, this helps tie the whole nutrition picture together. Fresh, healthy food prepared at home and eaten together as a family equals a great start toward eliminating overweight and obesity.

• Play together. – Just as you plan meals, grow your garden, cook and dine together, it’s important to factor in the other part of the equation. You need to become more physically active as a family. Play catch, softball, tennis, badminton, or go swimming, hiking in the mountains, nature preserve or community park. Take trips to the beach and jog along the shore. Get involved in more challenging recreational activities as your strength and endurance increases. This could be volleyball, basketball, baseball, parasailing, hang gliding, downhill or cross-country skiing, tubing, snowshoeing, snowboarding, or ice skating. When it comes to getting up and out, this also applies to more mundane things. Park the car at the far end of the lot instead of next to the door. You can use the extra walk. During vacation trips, stop frequently so everyone can get out and stretch their legs, play Frisbee, and move around a bit. Take the stairs instead of the elevator (up and down). Always look for new ways to incorporate fun physical activity into your daily routine – and be sure the kids join in as much as possible.

A Slimmer – And More Fit – Future

These are just suggestions to get us going. As you incorporate healthier food and eating habits, along with an increase in physical activity, into your lives, you are bound to see an improvement. Not only will you and your children shed a few unnecessary pounds, you’ll also start toning up muscles, have more stamina, energy, more joie de vivre. Get more out of life and ensure that your children are able to grow into adulthood with every expectation of living full and healthy lives.

In the final analysis, while First Lady Michelle Obama may have brought it to our attention, this is really an issue we can all get behind in a big way. And, to tell the truth, it really isn’t such hard work after all. In fact, let’s make eating healthy and being more active a fun goal, one that we’re eager to dig into.