First Lady Michelle Obama is getting faith-based groups and communities involved in reducing and eliminating obesity in children and having an impact on hunger in this country by announcing the Let’s Move: Faith and Communities initiative.
Mrs. Obama lauded efforts that were underway prior to the Let’s Move campaign and spoke of the crucial role that churches, congregations and community groups play in people’s lives.
“One in three children in this country is either overweight or obese, and you’ve all seen the impact this issue has on the lives of our children,” she said. “And you see what happens when unhealthy children grow up to be unhealthy adults – struggling with diseases like diabetes and cancer and heart disease.”
The effort will support efforts that are working and highlight what is happening in the communities.
“We’ve created a special tool kit on our letsmove.gov website. This toolkit provides all kinds of great ideas and helpful tips for faith and community leaders seeking to promote healthy eating and fitness in their congregations and in their communities,” Mrs. Obama said.
The First AME Church of Los Angeles, the Progressive National Baptist Convention, Girl Scouts USA and Catholic Charities are among the first 50 to make a commitment to increase feeding programs for children, encourage exercise and to plant vegetable gardens.
She is also hoping the Healthy Hungry Free Kid’s Act nutrition program under consideration by Congress will be voted on before the Christmas holiday.
Next year’s goals for the Let’s Move initiative include walking a total of 3 million miles; awarding 500 presidential active lifestyle awards to new exercise programs; hosting 10,000 farmer’s markets or community gardens; and opening 1,000 new summer feeding sites in the nation.
For more information, go to www.letsmove.gov and to sign your faith-based group or community effort into the Let’s Move campaign to eliminate obesity, email collaborate@usda.gov or partnerships@hhs.gov.