First lady gearing up to fight obesity among children

In an event scheduled for today afternoon, Obama will outline a plan on how to ensure that children in the nation lead a healthy lifestyle.

The first lady said that she will use all the power to promote the campaign that will include encouraging healthier food in schools, more accurate labeling of food items, grocery stores that promote healthy food, and promoting activities like walking and biking.

Efforts to fight the problem failed so far
A lot of concern has been raised regarding obesity, as the administration has not been able to come up with effective regulations to deal with the issue.

Sen. Tom Harkin said that since 15 years efforts made to fight obesity have failed, including the push to remove sugary drinks and salty snacks in school vending machines.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 32 percent children and adolescent suffer from obesity. Further, the problem has grown rapidly during the 1980s and 1990s.

The problem costs society around $100 billion annually.

Obesity--a serious problem
Obesity is one problem which is easiest to recognize but difficult to treat. This problem, which usually begins in children between the ages 5 and 6, is related to poor eating habits, overeating, lack of exercise, depression etc.

It further gives rise to problems like increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, breathing problems and trouble in sleeping. It also increases the risk of emotional problems in children.

Also, research has shown that a child who suffers from obesity between the ages of 10 and 13 has 80 percent chance of becoming an obese adult.

Obama likely to succeed against obesity
According to experts, the first lady will succeed in her efforts to fight obesity and promote healthy life style among children as there is already a momentum across the nation to bring about this change.

Ann Cooper, director of nutrition services for Boulder, Colo, told Politico, “I am so optimistic because someone is caring about the next generation and working to make it better.

“Conversely, it’s a huge uphill battle and struggle because I don’t believe the first lady’s campaign is going to mesh easily with the president’s budget and Agriculture Department priorities.”