US: Obama unveils obesity plan to curb kids marketing

By: just-food.com | 11 May 2010

Michelle Obama unveils anti-obesity campaign for kids

First Lady Michelle Obama today (11 May) unveiled a Task Force action plan calling on food manufacturers to curb the marketing of unhealthy foods to children.

Obama joined Domestic Policy Council Director Melody Barnes and members of the Childhood Obesity Task Force to unveil the plan, which aims to tackle the problem of childhood obesity.

“For the first time, the nation will have goals, benchmarks, and measureable outcomes that will help us tackle the childhood obesity epidemic one child, one family, and one community at a time,” Obama said.  “We want to marshal every resource – public and private sector, mayors and governors, parents and educators, business owners and health care providers, coaches and athletes – to ensure that we are providing each and every child the happy, healthy future they deserve.”

The plan comes on the back of the First Lady’s Let’s Move campaign launched in February, and details 70 specific recommendations, a coordinated strategy, identifies key benchmarks, and outlines an action plan in a bid to solve the problem of childhood obesity within a generation.

It will also involve cabinet members and administration officials holding events across the US to highlight the importance of addressing obesity issues.

Recommendations include; prenatal care for parents, improved labels on food and menus, reduced marketing of unhealthy products to children, improved health care services including BMI measurement for all children, providing healthy food in schools, and getting children more physically active.
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