Weighty Issues

Michelle Obama Wants States on Her Side

In the battle against childhood obesity.

First Lady Michelle Obama urged governors to take up the fight against childhood obesity at the National Governors Association’s winter meeting. “There's no place for politics when it comes to fighting childhood obesity,” Obama said, “Because with a phone call or the stroke of a pen, you can determine whether a child can see a doctor or get a decent education or have a safe place to play...” The first lady spoke approvingly of several successful state programs, including one in Arkansas, for which she gave former Republican Gov. Mike Huckabee high marks. She praised the creativity in West Virginia of bringing the dance game Dance, Dance Revolution to schools (and noted the president had yet to master the difficult game). Obama stressed that lowering the BMI of the nation’s youth was not only morally right, but financially smart.