Let’s Move Campaign Moving Into America’s Cities

Let’s Move Campaign Moving Into America’s Cities




In February of this year, First Lady Michelle Obama launched a childhood obesity initiative, “Let’s Move,” with the goal of developing workable ideas to help end childhood obesity within one generation. Working toward that end, a meeting of the minds occurred in April at the White House, with Task Force members getting set to prepare a report that will “serve as a very important road map, with goals, benchmarks, [and] measurable outcomes…” The task force meeting, about 100 strong, was composed of senior Administration officials, doctors, teachers, activists, and other individuals who are committed to ending childhood obesity.

Yesterday Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius launched the Let’s Move Cities and Towns component of the Let’s Move! campaign at the U.S. Conference of Mayors Annual Meeting in Oklahoma City. Addressing an audience of more than 400 mayors and municipal staffs, Secretary Sebelius encouraged local officials to adopt a long-term, sustainable and holistic approach to fight child obesity in their communities.

Let’s Move Cities and Towns reaffirms the commitment First Lady Michelle Obama made to the U.S. Conference of Mayors in January to work in partnership with local leaders to tackle the challenge of child obesity.

“You occupy a unique position in your community,” the First Lady told the Conference of Mayors via video. “You can bring communities together around great challenges, you know how to develop effective solutions, and you can spur action at the grassroots unlike anyone else.”

Let’s Move Cities and Let’s Move Towns asks local communities support the Let’s Move Initiative and its four pillars: helping parents make healthy choices, creating healthy schools, providing access to healthy and affordable food, and promoting physical activity.

“Mayors and local leaders are critical to the Let’s Move! campaign” said Secretary Sebelius. “We recognize that every community is different, and every town requires a distinct approach. We designed Let’s Move Cities and Towns to empower local leaders to take steps that will have a real impact on their own unique communities, whether that’s building sidewalks and parks, supporting local farmers markets or bringing healthier food into schools.”