First Lady Michelle Obama says ‘Let’s Move’

US First Lady Michelle Obama speaks about her initiative, Let's Move, a program to combat childhood obesity, at Fairhill Elementary School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on February 19. (Saul Loeb/Getty Images)

The child obesity program “Let’s Move” is rolling forward to tackle the problem of the sobering number of children who suffer from obesity and diabetes. Initiated by the first lady Michelle Obama, ‘Let’s Move’ plans to transform America over a generation into a healthy environment for children.

With 1 in 3 children in America suffering from obesity and 1 in 3 suffering from diabetes, the government spends $150 billion annually to combat these conditions.

In an announcement Tuesday, the first lady said that the ‘Let’s Move’ plan is to deliver healthy and affordable food to schools and neighborhoods by reauthorizing the Child Nutrition Act. Moreover, children will be educated in schools about making healthier choices, physical activities will be expanded, and working mothers will be given the opportunity to continue breastfeeding.

Some Let’s Move projects such as increasing half the number of schools that meet the Healthier U.S. School Challenge are set to be achieved by next year. Others such as doubling daily high school student participation in physical education will progress over 20 years.

“Now we just need to follow through with the plan,“ said  first lady Michelle Obama . ”No one gets off the hook on this one—from governments to schools, corporations to nonprofits, all the way down to families sitting around their dinner table.”