Calling ALL With a Pulse...Please Get Involved!

Regardless of your political view or affiliation, you have got to be happy that First Lady Michelle Obama has gotten actively involved in the childhood obesity epdiemic. Obesity statistics are staggering, and it frightens me to think of our healthcare system 20 years from now if things do not change. What type of society will my children's children be living in? The passion to do what I do is rooted in the individuals and their families, but for others to become motivated to action they must realize the economics of this crisis. When I worked at a pediatric facility here in Dallas, I saw children as young as 6 years old with Type 2 Diabetes due to obesity. I saw children the same age coming down with fatty liver because of their abdominal fat. These children will have serious health issues going into their early adulthood and the healthcare system will become overwhelmed. Can you imagine the individual healthcare cost of these people as adutls? Even if you are not a parent, you must get involved and do something because you will be affected in some way.

Let's Move! is a new initiative headed up by First Lady Michelle Obama that was unveiled during last month's National Nutrition Month. The program's 4 goals are to: 1) provide valuable resources for parents to encourage healthier food choices in the home; 2) improve the food quality in schools; 3) improve access to healthier food; and finally, 4) to increase physical activity.

Let's Move! PSA entitled, "It's Breakfast Time!"

How do I get involved, you ask? Start by joining their Call To Action. You will start receiving more information on what you can do in your area. Start thinking about how you can provide a healthier environment for you and the children around you by reading more information about the 4 goals on the Let's Move! website. Get involved for the sake of you and your loved ones of future generations. I love some of the PSA's the Let's Move! Campaign has out, including the It's Breakfast Time! piece that airs on Nickelodeon. The research shows that people that eat breakfast daily have a lower body weight and children do better academically in school. Make sure you are modeling healthy behaviors for our future generations to follow.