Michelle Obama, Let's Move! Featured In Special Issue Of Scholarly Journal "Childhood Obesity"

First Lady pens the forward for issue devoted to the second anniversary of Let's Move!; Agriculture Secretary is also a contributor...
First Lady Michelle Obama has graced the cover of many magazines since President Obama took office, from Vogue to Better Homes and Gardens to More to the current cover of Prevention. But Mrs. Obama makes her first appearance on the cover of a scholarly journal with the special February edition of the bimonthly Childhood Obesity, devoted to the second anniversary of the Let's Move! campaign. Mrs. Obama wrote the forward for the issue, which is published in print and online. The Editor-in-Chief is David Katz, MD, MPH, a diet book author and the founding Director of Yale University's Prevention Research Center. He provides an opening editorial about Let's Move!. The full issue is available online HERE.

"With the launch of this issue of Childhood Obesity, we have taken another important step forward," Mrs. Obama writes. "In these pages, scholars, policymakers, and health professionals provide valuable insight, commentary, and information on our epidemic of childhood obesity."

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack also has a piece in the issue, and writes about the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act 2010, the legislative centerpiece of the Let's Move! campaign. Other contributors include New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, co-chair of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition, who co-authors a piece with Shellie Y. Pfohl, Executive Director of the PCFSN; Stephen Daniels, MD, PhD; Sandra Hassink, MD; Margo Wootan, Director of Nutrition Policy at the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

The issue includes articles on assessing the value of BMI screening and surveillance in schools; creating environments that support routine physical activity and a healthy lifestyle; after-school obesity prevention programs; nutrition standards for school meals; faith-based advocacy efforts to end childhood obesity; gaming and technology for weight control; and the role of sleep in childhood obesity. There is also a "roundtable discussion" about what is unknown about childhood obesity, industry efforts to help children make healthy food choices, and success stories from the Let's Move! campaign.

The First Lady's Forward:

Let's Move!
Raising A Healthier Generation of Kids

When I first decided to focus on the issue of childhood obesity, I wondered whether it was really possible to make a difference. I knew the conventional wisdom on this issue—particularly when it comes to changing how and what our kids eat. There’s the assumption that kids don’t like healthy food, so why try to feed it to them? There’s the belief that healthy food doesn’t sell as well, so companies will never change the products they offer. There’s the sense that this problem is so big, and so entrenched, that no matter what we do, we’ll never be able to solve it.

Two years later, I am thrilled to report that because of the hard work and leadership of individuals and organizations from every sector of our society, we have begun to change the conversation about childhood obesity in America. Since we launched Let’s Move!, we’ve made significant progress—from providing our kids with healthier food and greater opportunities for physical activity in school and in their communities, to getting families the information they need to make healthier decisions, to ensuring that more people have access to healthy, affordable food.

For example, major food manufacturers are cutting sugar, salt, and fat from their products. Restaurants are revamping their kids’ menus, loading them up with fresher, healthier options. Companies like Walgreens, superValu, Walmart, and Calhoun’s Grocery are committing to build or expand 1500 stores and sell fresh food in underserved communities across this country. Retailers are working to lower the cost of fruits, vegetables, and healthy options. Congress passed historic legislation to provide more nutritious school meals to millions of American children. Schools are growing gardens. More than 1,000 salad bars have been added to school cafeterias. Cities and towns are opening farmers’ markets. Congregations are holding summer nutrition programs for kids. Medical professionals are screening children for obesity and teaching parents how to address it. Consumers have a new icon, MyPlate, to help make healthy choices for their families. Parents are reading those food labels and rethinking the meals and snacks they serve to their kids.

And because we know that physical activity is also critical for keeping kids healthy, people across the country are coming up with innovative ways to help our kids engage in active play every day. schools are starting running clubs and fitness competitions, and teachers are incorporating physical activity into classes ranging from music to math. Communities are keeping high school gyms open on weekends. businesses are supporting youth sports leagues. Faith leaders are starting exercise minis-tries, and faith and community organizations have logged more than 1.5 million walking miles.

And with the launch of this issue of Childhood Obesity, we have taken another important step forward. In these pages, scholars, policymakers, and health professionals provide valuable insight, commentary, and information on our epidemic of childhood obesity. In doing so, they greatly enhance our conversation about this most urgent health challenge for our next generation. We still have a long way to go in solving this problem. But I am confident that with the leadership exemplified by parents, businesses, schools, physicians, and authors like those whose ideas fill these pages, we will solve this problem and give our children the happy, healthy futures they deserve.

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Childhood Obesity bills itself as "the journal of record for all aspects of communication on the broad spectrum of issues and strategies related to weight management and obesity prevention in children and adolescents." Notes the publisher, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc: "The Journal is in collaboration with the American Association of Diabetes Educators, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the American College of Sports Medicine, and the American Academy of Family Physicians."

*CLICK HERE for all posts about the second anniversary of Let's Move!.