Expert Advice
A Pediatrician’s View on Michelle Obama’s Exclusive
‘Let’s Move’ Chat With AOL
By Dr. Jim Sears Jul 12th 2010 1:32PM
Categories: Children’s Health, Experts
First Lady Michelle Obama Talks ‘Let’s Move!’ Initiative Exclusively With AOL Health.Mrs. Obama will be discussing the newly enhanced “Let’s Move!” website and answering readers questions live. The first lady’s plan brings together schools, parents and businesses to fight the childhood obesity epidemic. To listen in, visit here Tuesday morning at 10 a.m. to watch Mrs. Obama’s hour-long discussion of her ambitious initiative, which calls for better food choices and more exercise for all children regardless of economic status.
Before her live chat, read what “The Doctors” host Dr. James Sears has to say about first lady’s program.
Sears, a child health specialist, tells AOL Health that Mrs. Obama’s plan is the most comprehensive he has seen and that it just “has to” work.
Find out why below:
AOL Health: What is your general opinion on the “Let’s Move” childhood obesity campaign?
Dr. Sears: This is the largest effort I have seen yet at addressing the overwhelming problem of obesity in this country. I have been speaking about this issue for a decade and I have often been discouraged at the lack of change this country is making. I have often lamented that this problem is just too big and that we will never be able to clean up this mess. But, when I read about Mrs. Obama’s plan, I was amazed at the scope of the project and I was encouraged that finally, somebody with enough clout was going to try to get something done!
AOL Health: Based on the program guidelines, do you think this initiative could be successful in addressing the increasingly alarming childhood obesity issue in the U.S.?
Dr. Sears: I do think this program will work; it HAS to! The future of our children and our country depends on this. I like that this program is addressing all the key areas that need to be changed: Helping parents make healthier food choices, increasing access to healthy food for all families, improving the quality of food in the schools and getting kids to be more active! One of my favorite specific objectives of the plan is making nutritional labeling that is easier to understand for the average American, especially on unhealthy items like soda cans and bottles. Almost like the warning on a pack of cigarettes, this one step will drastically reduce the incidence of type-2 diabetes by getting people to limit their soda intake. My other favorite objective is that in addition to increasing after-school sports and activities, the plan aims to provide safe routes to school, so children can walk or ride their bikes. Getting kids back to walking to and from school will help ensure they are getting the needed 60 minutes of exercise per day. As a bonus, getting some of that exercise before school will drastically improve their academic performance.
AOL Health: Having been overweight yourself in your lifetime, do you think you would have benefitted from a program like this when you were younger?
Dr. Sears: My extra weight started to be a problem in my late twenties, not childhood. But I gained weight for all the same reasons that cause kids to be overweight — I wasn’t active enough and I was making poor food choices. When all the parts of this program are in place, everybody will benefit…not just the kids.
AOL Health: What are your specific tips for parents on how to avoid or reduce the incidence of childhood obesity?
Dr. Sears: I’ve actually written an entire book about this — The Healthiest Kid in the Neighborhood: Ten Ways to Get Your Family on the Right Nutritional Track — but I can summarize some important key points:
It’s important to start this early, while a child is still young and before they develop all the wrong habits. It’s funny, I was about to say, “…inheriting all their parents’ wrong habits,” and then it occurred to me. I want kids to inherit all their parents’ good eating habits, meaning it’s really the parents who need to eat less sugar, eat more fruits and veggies, eat healthier fats and MOVE!
