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September 9, 2010

Michelle Obama is wasting no time when it comes to getting her Let’s Move! campaign--a program devoted to fighting childhood obesity--moving.

Lets Move! encourages children to exercise, and aims to provide more free and reduced-price school meals. It also aims to make food offered in schools more nutritious.

Mrs. Obama called on Congress Wednesday to pass a piece of legislation that would make many of her program’s initiatives possible.

The Child Nutrition Act, which would require food sold in schools to meet new nutrition guidelines, was passed in early August by the Senate and is currently on the agenda in the House of Representatives.

Under the act, schools would get an increased amount of federal reimbursement money for meals. It would also expand the number of poorer students who are eligible for free and reduced-price school meals.

Studies have shown that families who live in low-income areas have little access to healthy food, let alone affordable healthy food.

According to the CDC, "Childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years. The prevalence of obesity among children aged 6 to 11 years increased from 6.5 percent in 1980 to 19.6 percent in 2008" and "obesity among adolescents aged 12 to 19 years increased from 5 percent to 18 percent."

To prove this point, the First Lady gave a speech at an elementary school in Slidell, Louisiana--an area with one of the highest child obesity rates in the country. She encouraged students to get more exercise and for the schools to make healthier meals easier for students to receive with the help of federal reimbursement.

The bill currently sits in the House of Representatives where congressman are adding new elements and funds to the $4.5 billion version passed by the Senate.

Learn more about you can help children of low-income families gain access to healthy food with the following resources:

• AccessToHealthyFoods.org
• Slow Food in Schools Program
• Food Research and Action Center

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