Michelle Obama Vows To Fight Obesity ‘Long After I Leave The White House’

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack joined First Lady Michelle Obama in Des Moines, IA, to k
USDA Photo/Darin Leach

During her European tour promoting her anti-obesity program ‘Let’s Move!’, First Lady Michelle Obama indicated that she would continue fighting obesity for the rest of her life.

“While I am in my final stretch as First Lady, I have no intention of slowing down on this issue,” she explained to an Italian news organization. “I plan to continue this work long after I leave the White House.”

Obama pointed out that in spite of everything she has done on the issue, “not a single country has reversed these obesity trends in a lasting way.”

In America, she explained, childhood obesity rates have “stopped rising” but that number is still too high.

“Right now, one in three kids in the U.S. is overweight or obese – for African American and Hispanic kids, the rate is nearly 40 percent,” she said. “And obesity is now one of the leading causes for preventable death and disease in the United States.”

The First Lady proudly highlighted some of the accomplishments, including the fact that children were going to more daycare centers “where fruits and vegetables have replaced cookies and juice.”

She boasted that chain restaurants made healthier kids’ menus while food companies beverage cut “trillions” of calories from their products.

She also touted her success in spreading her healthy gospel to area churches.

“Religious leaders are teaching their congregations about healthy eating through Let’s Move! Faith and Communities,” she added.

When asked about what she usually fed her family, Michelle Obama indicated that a typical meal at the White House included baked chicken with brown rice and broccoli, or grilled fish with “couscous” and a green salad.

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