The White House and First Lady Michelle Obama Hold Childhood Obesity Meeting

Childhood obesity is a major problem in the United States. The White House has been very vocal about needing to figure out ways to combat childhood obesity and help parents focus on nutrition for their children. On Friday, the White House invited one hundred food and fitness experts to the White House to have sort of a childhood obesity summit.

Some of the experts assembled included representatives from the following: Mars Corp, Weight Watchers, the Sierra Club, YMCA, YWCA, schools, and health and nutrition companies. Some ideas include building bike paths and parks closer to schools in urban areas and dealing with the hunger issue in these areas. Junk food is often cheaper than healthier foods so many families turn to them to feed their families. First Lady Michelle Obama and members of the President’s cabinet also addressed the group of experts. Michelle Obama has been an advocate or organic gardening and helping children get involved in planting gardens at their schools. She stated that there needs to be healthier lunches at schools. Many school lunches are full of salt, fat and unnecessary calories. Having healthier and more organic options for children can help them live healthier lifestyles down the road.

Peter Orszag stated that fighting childhood obesity can lower health care costs. This is because obese people often require more than fifteen hundred dollars more in health care costs than those who are not overweight. If children eat better and are more active, then their generation will be able to live healthier and longer.