Let's Move!

One of the most important current movements toward producing a healthier generation is First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move!" initiative. The program's five main goals are:

"1. Creating a healthy start for children
 2. Empowering parents and caregivers
 3. Providing healthy food in schools
 4. Improving access to healthy, affordable foods
 5. Increasing physical activity"

The initiative is unique for many reasons:

• It aims to solve the obesity problem in one generation. This is ambitious because to 'cure' obesity, many cultural norms must be overturned and replaced. Fast food can't be seen as a common or frequent indulgence, people have to tear themselves away from their computers and televisions in order to exercise, and nutrition labels have to be scrutinized for more than just calorie count.

• It targets not only parents, but parents-to-be. There is a special section on the website dedicated to mothers. It talks about why breastfeeding is a better option than formula, what mothers should eat while breastfeeding, and even what behaviors should be avoided while pregnant in order to lower the child's chances of becoming obese.

• It advocates not only physical activity, but outdoor physical activity. Rather than turning to technological solutions to America's exercise phobia, like Wii Fit, "Let's Move!" encourages families and schools to get kids moving outside in local parks, forests, or other outdoor areas. There are links on the program's website to resources that parents and teachers can use to find outdoor events, forests, parks, and playgrounds in their area.

• Parents are urged to lead by example. The program stresses equal responsibility for parents and community members when it comes to health and fitness. Families are encouraged to eat, exercise, and plan meals and outings together.

While one generation may be an overly optimistic goal, the "Let's Move!" program does approach the problem from a practical viewpoint and tries to incorporate realistic smaller goals as much as possible. Michelle Obama is serious about the program and its goals, and I think that her program will help the issue immensely. By identifying herself as an advocate of a healthier next generation, she is already helping by catapulting the issue into the public sphere, generating both interest and awareness when previously, the issue was ignored by many.

There are many, many more pages on the official website, and I would encourage anyone who is interested in health and fitness, especially parents, to check out the resources provided there.