Let's Move!

One major component of the campaign, the Hunger-Free Kids Act, was funded with money from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps).

[9] On the same date, Obama signed a presidential memorandum creating the Task Force on Childhood Obesity to review current programs and develop a national action plan.

[11] The initiative was led for several years by Sam Kass, the personal chef to the Obamas who became the first-ever White House Senior Policy Advisor on Nutrition.

The childhood obesity rate tripled from 1980 to 1999 creating an epidemic and a generation where children may have shorter life spans than their parents.

[22] The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) presents its Let's Move food choice guidelines on the webpage called MyPlate, located at ChooseMyPlate.gov.

urges mothers to eat more healthily when pregnant and offers links to a special "MyPyramid Plan for Moms" so they can create a personalized and healthy diet.

[27] The initiative also provides guidelines for parents to set up and promote healthy eating habits for their entire family and children.

In February 2010, First Lady Michelle Obama introduced Let's Move!, incorporating the HealthierUS School Challenge into her campaign to raise a healthier generation of kids.

[30] For Let's Move to work effectively, communities would need to be involved, schools would need to implement health programs, and parents would need to teach their children healthy habits.

[31] Professional chefs volunteer a specified amount of their time to cook with students and/or to help train school workers in how to prepare and provide food in a healthier manner.

[32] As of February 2, 2012 about 3,500 schools were partnered with professional chefs in an effort to educate students about a healthier diet in an entertaining and appealing way.

[34] Other partners of the program include the School Nutrition Association, the American Culinary Federation, Cooking Matters, the United States Department of Agriculture, the Culinary Trust, the Partnership for a Healthier America, Cornell University, Philip Lempert the Supermarket Guru, the Harvard School of Public Health, the International Corporate Chefs Association, and the Food Service Management Institute.

For example, Disney now requires that all foods sold and advertised have to follow nutritional guidelines of increasing fruit and vegetable consumption while decreasing calorie count.

Also, Walgreens, Superval, and Walmart have announced building or expanding stores in areas that have limited access to healthy foods.

On children, the initiative states, "Those who feel supported by friends and families or are surrounded by others interested in physical activity, are more likely to participate.

Let's Move could also improve its coordination process by establishing clear field officers in each associated organization and have them report to a central authority figure, like the Task Force on Childhood Obesity.

Flash Workout is a 2011 initiative by R&B singer Beyoncé in collaboration with Michelle Obama, and the National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation to help boost her campaign against child obesity.

"[47] The song is a step-by-step flash dance-style workout that combines hip hop, Latin and dancehall moves with traditional exercise.

[48] On April 9, 2011, an instructional video featuring a group of teenagers dancing to "Move Your Body" was released online.

[49] After a few days, Beyoncé has said that she "would record her own version of the exercise routine"[49] to show kids how it is done by shooting a new music video featuring a series of fun workouts to accompany the track.

First Lady Michelle Obama deserves credit for tackling this issue directly, and I applaud the NAB Education Foundation for trying to make a positive difference in the lives of our schoolchildren.

[50] On April 9, 2011, an instructional video featuring a group of teenagers dancing to "Move Your Body" was released online.

[49] After a few days, Beyoncé explained that she "would record her own version of the exercise routine"[49] to show kids how it is done by shooting a new music video featuring a series of fun workouts to accompany the track.

[51] Lauretta Charlton of Black Entertainment Television (BET) gave the video a positive review stating that "It's impossible to watch without wanting to, well, move your body.

"[48] Nicole James of MTV Buzzworthy showed great interest in the video and its message, stating that Beyoncé gets kids heart pumping, "in more ways than one".