Is Michelle Obama's 'Let's Move' Campaign Benefiting Black Children?

With all eyes on POTUS and his long-awaited jobs speech, first-lady Michelle Obama's campaign against childhood obesity could be easily overlooked. A team of researchers from the University of Michigan have been keeping a close eye on the program, however, evaluating how on target it is in meeting its 2030 goal: to solve the epidemic of childhood obesity and return the country to it's pre-1970s rate of 5 percent.

In a recent University of Michigan study, published online in Obesity Journal, researchers evaluated the balance of prevention and treatment required to achieve The White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity's goal.

Researchers concluded that the emphasis needs to be placed on both prevention and treatment, the latter of which they feel has been overlooked, especially among minorities. “Effective treatment strategies, particularly targeted to minority children, are especially needed,” says Joyce M. Lee, M.D., M.P.H., assistant professor of pediatrics and communicable diseases at the U-M Medical School and lead author of the study. “There is a lot of discussion about obesity prevention for children. That’s certainly important, but it’s not the whole story. Because so many children are already obese, there need to be greater efforts focused on treatment if we’re going to have success,” she said in a news release.

Rates of childhood obesity in the U.S. are much higher for minority children, with 20 percent of black and Mexican-American children affected, compared with just 15 percent for white children. Because the burden of obesity is already so high, prevention strategies alone will not help the task force reach its goal, the study concludes.

Financial barriers to treatment are largely to blame for the disparity. "Only ten states cover obesity-related nutritional and behavioral therapy offered through programs like Medicaid," the release noted. But there is a glimmer of hope, according to Lee. "The Health Care Reform Bill passed in 2010 may play an important role for providing coverage for obese children, as it will require new health plans to cover obesity screening and counseling for children,” she says.

Comments

[Berlet98]

03:34 AM on 11/03/2011

The Madness of Queen Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama

Sorry to disillusion anyone but things aren’t always what they seem to be and are rarely what some people wish to be. That sad note of enlightenment applies especially to Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama.

All those fat kids out there whom the FLOTUS has been weaning off burgers and fries and turning on to kale wraps and grilled hummus will be disillusioned. All those kids who knocked on the door at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue on Halloween and were given raisins and dried fruit by President Barack Hussein Obama’s wife will be disheartened.

Nevertheless, truth must be told: Michelle Obama isn’t a very nice person and I know, I know, it’s ungentlemanly and rude to say such a thing.

Likewise, it’s unladylike to trash the nation that accorded you the opportunity to feel special by saying, a mere three years ago, “For the first time in my adult lifetime, I’m really proud of my country” and telling Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, the bride of the president of the French Republic, a few months later what she thought of her First Lady job: “Don’t ask! It’s hell. I can’t stand it!”

Harry S Truman once said, “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen!” I would say, if you’re a malcontent, go back to Chicago!

I somehow doubt Mrs. Obama visits the White House kitchen very often . . .
(Read more at http://www.genelalor.com/blog1/?p=5868.)

[Arlan]

02:44 AM on 09/25/2011

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLiV7yr3HDY&feature=player_embedded - Exercise More - Eat Less! The WE Party www.weparty.info

[Nadiyah24]

12:50 PM on 09/22/2011

isn't ironic.. we have a country that is thriving an obesity but yet you still have children from other country eating from garbage.

[Tone67]

11:01 AM on 09/14/2011

If Obama loses, i wonder how many articles will i see that ask stupid questions like this, as long as we are all human beings of the same species, then by default anything positive done in the way of being healty benefits us all, how is it possible to narrow her initiative by race.

[Angie Daniels]

02:15 AM on 09/14/2011

Her emphasis on healthy gardens and exercise benefits all of us, all races and ages. She is doing a wonderful thing and I am very proud of her.

[pink4004]

02:03 AM on 09/13/2011

I don't think the campaign has been in existence long enough to determine if it's working? It's just like anything else....it will take time for it to work. I will say this.....we need to back waaaaay off the fast foods. That's the primary culprit of obesity!!

[dessoftruth]

07:17 PM on 09/12/2011

U go Michelle!

[dessoftruth]

07:06 PM on 09/12/2011

what a great thing for america's kids.

[Stephen Stafford]

03:42 PM on 09/12/2011

Of course the program benefits Black children and every other child who participates. I ought to know better than to be upset with these headlines, but I do.

Pre-1970's parents equipped themselves with a little directive for children that went like this: "Go outside and play." They did not specify play what, and you already knew who you could play with and who you could not. And you went and played, and there was not so much of any child to lug around.

There is no cost to monitoring a child's eating and helping him or her eat less. Being active does not have to break the bank either. Somebody pays for every bit of those groceries that produce the buffalo backed kids we see all over today.
Eat less, exercise more, use good nutritional choices can be helpful to all communities. It is wonderful that Black children are among those benefitting from the First Lady's efforts. I am also impressed that the program is benefitting from empirical review.

[jone3742son]

06:25 PM on 09/12/2011

I compeltely agree with your comments. The real issue isn't that the children don't desire to participate...it's more about the parents who aren't willing to "take a stand" and embrace the requirements, change their cooking habits, and also encouraging their children to engage in being more physically active. So, at the end of the day it's not that the First Lady's program is failing it's continues to be the "parent" that are willing to take their responsibility and leadas parent s should, but sadly most arent doing, because just look at them...that also requires that they also have to change.

[Niasia]

01:04 PM on 09/12/2011

This really starts with the parent. My mother was obese when we were young, however, she did not allow us to eat as she did. We couldn't just open the fridge and eat whatever we liked. We had to ask permission. Also, thankfully for us, we had our dad who hated processed food so he did most if not all of the cooking in our home. I know though, if were just our mom both my sister and I would be large. My sister is now working as a nutritionist and has gotten mom to lose over 100 lbs. We're still working on the last 70 lbs but we know she can do it!

[Godiva]

03:08 PM on 09/12/2011

Unfortunately, I think it has a lot to do with their physical habits and what's in the food. Lately there is this big, Glutten Allergy trend, when did this pop -up, and where did it come from????

When I was younger, it was punishment to stay/sit inside. Often child these days, would rather do anything but go out in the sun light. It's video games, texting and the internet. So we have a generation of children with physically fit fingers and that's it.

[AcademicFreedom]

04:03 PM on 09/12/2011

No one can accomplish weight reduction without the help of the government.

[lotus321]

10:19 AM on 09/12/2011

Simple. I force my kids and grandkids to go outside and play. They also have to do exercise. They only get to watch TV on the weekds and I want let them play video games for more than an hour. They also have chores...none of them are fat.

[Stand Up for your Belief]

02:48 PM on 09/11/2011

Parents need to step up and do their jobs. It is all about personal responsibility.

[SoCalifTeacher]

02:15 PM on 09/11/2011

When Michelle Obama stands on the steps of the White House and tells every Black America mother, grandmother, and auntie to take a baseball bat to every TV and video game player in their home, then she will be doing something to benefit black children in this country.

[Stand Up for your Belief]

02:47 PM on 09/11/2011

She will benefit ALL children if she does that.

[Yam716]

11:35 AM on 09/13/2011

Maybe take a bat to the parents who allow their TV and video game player to parent and/or baby sit their children??

[SoCalifTeacher]

08:31 AM on 09/14/2011

OK

[keepinitrealic]

01:20 PM on 09/11/2011

The First Lady is fantastic! She loves children and puts her "money where her mouth is". She is the most healthiest, smart, true, and most involved First Lady in the history of this counties First Ladies...not to mention classy and beautiful.

[baybeebluz]

12:25 PM on 09/11/2011

Do people really not understand pounding down junk food and chicken nuggets is unhealthy? Of course they do. They are choosing that lifestyle for themselves and their kids. This campaign is as useless as the Just Say No campaign. People are going to eat what they want period!

[Stand Up for your Belief]

02:48 PM on 09/11/2011

Exactly!!

[Stephen Stafford]

03:48 PM on 09/12/2011

Actually, it is helpful. People are moving more. Children are playing and exercising more. Families are paying attention to their nutritional intakes, and making other dietary choices.

Additionally, Mrs. Obama has announced that certain stores will be opening in areas where fresh fruits and vegetables are not readily available.

So, this is very different, and is being measured to determine some of the actual outcomes.