Eliza Chin (AMWA President) and Elena Ong represented AMWA at the First Lady’s launch to combat childhood obesity on February 9, 2010 at the White House. The initiative, “Let’s Move,” aims to solve the childhood obesity problem in America within a generation. Excerpts from the First Lady’s speech can be found here. Also in attendance were key members of the President’s Cabinet, Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, members of Congress, and representatives from medical, public health, food service, media, and community groups.
Let’s Move! is a comprehensive initiative, launched by the First Lady Michele Obama, dedicated to solving the problem of obesity within a generation, so that children born today will grow up healthier and able to pursue their dreams. Combining comprehensive strategies with common sense, Let’s Move! is about putting children on the path to a healthy future during their earliest months and years. Giving parents helpful information and fostering environments that support healthy choices. Providing healthier foods in our schools. Ensuring that every family has access to healthy, affordable food. And, helping children become more physically active. View the introductory video explaining the White House Iniative here
At the launch of the initiative, President Barack Obama signed a Presidential Memorandum creating the first-ever Task Force on Childhood Obesity to conduct a review of every single programs and policies relating to child nutrition and physical activity and develop a national action plan to maximize federal resources and set concrete benchmarks toward the First Lady’s national goal. The Task Force recommendations focus on the five pillars of the First Lady’s Let’s Move! initiative:
- Creating a healthy start for children
- Empowering parents and caregivers
- Providing healthy food in schools
- Improving access to healthy, affordable foods
- Increasing physical activity
Everyone has a role to play in reducing childhood obesity, including parents and caregivers, elected officials from all levels of government, schools, health care professionals, faith-based and community-based organizations, and private sector companies. Your involvement is key to ensuring a healthy future for our children. View the following video of the accomplishments this year
AMWA’s efforts this year included recruiting five local mayors to designate their towns as Let’s Move Cities or towns. Recruit your local mayor to designate your city or town as an official lets move city or town and sign up here https://mail.google.com/mail/?shva=1#inbox/12f3db1517b0f8ef. A Mayors and local leaders guide is available at www.letsmove.gov. Read about AMWA’s recruitment efforts here… ( Link to this article)
