US: Michelle Obama launches anti-obesity drive
By: just-food.com | 9 February 2010
 |
The 'Let's Move' campaign includes bid for more exercise |
US First Lady Michelle Obama today (9 February) launched 'Let's Move', a drive designed to cut obesity levels among children in the country.
The campaign has been drawn up in a bid to encourage US families to eat more healthily and exercise more.
The push has been launched in tandem with The Partnership for a Healthier America, an independent NGO set up to "solve the child obesity challenge".
Mrs Obama will be honorary chair of the new NGO, which has been set up by organisations including the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
The NGO's leader, healthcare industry veteran Larry Cocot, said the organisation will bring national attention to the issue.
“Since 1980, the number of obese children in our nation has tripled, and obesity now rivals smoking as the largest cause of preventable death and disease," Cocot said.
Mrs Obama's 'Let's Move' initiative aims to get healthier food into US schools and help US children become more physically active.
Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, president and CEO of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, said the First Lady would bring "a new level of leadership and energy to the movement to reverse the epidemic of childhood obesity".
"Her prominence and credibility — not only as our nation’s First Lady, but also as a mother — already have drawn extraordinary public attention to the issue," Lavizzo-Mourey said.
Meanwhile, PepsiCo, the company behind snacks giant Frito-Lay, "applauded the effort being led by First Lady Michelle Obama".
"We believe that her 'Let's Move' campaign can add significant momentum and leadership to many efforts underway," said Indra Nooyi, PepsiCo's chairman and CEO.
"We have learned over the years there is no silver bullet to solve obesity. No single entity can do it alone. We need a guiding coalition in which individuals, companies, health agencies, consumer groups and governments all take on their appropriate responsibilities."
Sectors: Health & wellness
View next/previous articles
9 Feb 2010 -
9 Feb 2010 -
Currently reading -
US: Michelle Obama launches anti-obesity drive
9 Feb 2010 -
9 Feb 2010 -
Related research
Company Financials: Kellogg Company
IntroductionThe Company Financials offers insights into the financial performance of the company over last five years for about 1000 leading global companies. The datapack covers wealth of financial information relating to income statement, balance s...
The global outlook series on Cereal Products provides a collection of statistical anecdotes, market briefs, and concise summaries of research findings....
Products with presumed health benefits are gaining ground in breakfast cereals. For example, Nordisk Kellogg’s markets its Kellogg’s Special K brand through a website (www.specialk.fi) that focuses on weight control and other health issues, with the ...
Related articles
The just-food interview - Greg Peterson, Kellogg UK
Kellogg is home to some of the UK's best-known food brands and perhaps because of that recognition the company often faces criticism from campaigners who see the food industry as part of the cause of the country's obesity crisis. For this month's just-food interview, Dean Best met with Kellogg UK managing director Greg Peterson on the day he announced significant reformulation plans from the cereal maker.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food this week
It was no surprise that Russia's decision to temporarily ban wheat exports grabbed your attention this week. Wheat prices have soared in recent days and food makers will be facing rising commodity costs at the same time as facing still-weak consumer confidence. Two other stories out of Russia, Mars Inc's latest chocolate investment and a shareholder spat at food retailer Lenta, were highlights - as was our August just-food interview with the boss of Kellogg UK, Greg Peterson.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
A furore erupted in the UK earlier this week after meat from the offspring of a cloned cow entering the food chain. The news put the Food Standards Agency firmly in the spotlight, with the agency insisting the meat was safe but stating selling it was illegal - a stance the EU described to us as "slightly strict". Meanwhile, Kellogg announced plans to cut the amount of sugar in its Coco Pops cereals in the UK and just-food interviewed Kellogg UK boss Greg Peterson.
Read more on this hot issue
PepsiCo's health kickWhy PepsiCo's health drive has long-term and short-term benefits
There are currently no comments on this article
Be the first to comment on this article