Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The Federal Fat Police
CNS news ^ | Penny Starr,

Posted on 05/14/2010 1:59:29 AM PDT by verklaring

...The grant-receiving states would be required to mandate that all health care providers in the state determine the Body Mass Index of all their patients in the 2-to-18 age bracket and then report that information to the state government. The state government, in turn, would be required to report the information to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for analysis....

(Excerpt) Read more at cnsnews.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: cafeteria; democrats; govhealthcare; healthcare; impeachobama; michelleobama; millions; obama; parents; schoollunch; schoollunchprogram; schools; socialism; socializedhealthcare; taxdollars; tyranny; yourtaxdollars
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-24 next last
This is constitutional? It is a function of government?
1 posted on 05/14/2010 1:59:29 AM PDT by verklaring
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: verklaring

The article says that a BMI of 24 or greater means that you are overweight. I’m 5’9” 165 with approx 10% body fat, yet according to this calculator, I’m overweight. B.S.


2 posted on 05/14/2010 2:08:17 AM PDT by IHateLeftists
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All

Note: The following text is a quote:

www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-first-lady-lets-move-action-plan-announcement-with-cabinet-secretaries

Home • Briefing Room • Speeches & Remarks

The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release May 11, 2010

Remarks by the First Lady at “Let’s Move” Action Plan Announcement with Cabinet Secretaries

South Court Auditorium

10:40 A.M. EDT

MRS. OBAMA: Thanks, everyone, and thanks, Melody, for that kind introduction, that wonderful summary.

I want to thank Melody in particular for her work with this administration, especially her leadership on this Task Force.

As I said when we announced the Task Force effort, this is going to have to be an administration-wide effort. And I am proud of the way that so many people from so many different areas of the federal government have come together and embraced this challenge, stepped up with a level of commitment and passion that’s really made a difference.

If we — just take a step back for a moment and think about just how much this group has been able to accomplish in such a short period of time. In just a few months, the folks behind me have worked together to put forward a comprehensive plan that draws on everything that we’ve done up to this point and shows us that clear way forward.

That cooperation, enthusiasm and initiative is really what has made this entire effort so successful. And again that’s why we’re here today –- to talk about the action plan they’ve put together to help reverse the epidemic of childhood obesity in this country. We all know that it’s possible. We know we have the tools, we know we have the resources to make this happen. And now, thanks to the work of the Task Force, we have a road map for implementing our plan across our government and across the country.

I have talked about the statistics. We have all heard about them. But they always bear repeating. How nearly one in three children in this country are overweight and obese. How one in three kids will suffer from diabetes at some point in their lifetime as a result. And how we’re spending $150 billion a year to treat obesity-related conditions like heart disease and cancer.

That is why, three months ago, we started “Let’s Move” and we set a very ambitious goal — and that is to end the epidemic of childhood obesity in a generation, so that children born today grow up at a healthy weight.

And since we’ve made that announcement, we’ve already begun the work. It’s revolved around four main pillars. We’ve been working to give parents the information that they need to make healthy decisions for their families. We’ve been working to make our schools healthier. We’ve been working to increase the amount of physical activity that our kids are getting, not just during the day at school but also at home. And we’re working to eliminate “food deserts” so that folks have easy and affordable access to the foods they need right in their own neighborhoods.

But all that we’ve done over the past few months has really just been the beginning. We also want to make sure we’re using every resource that we have — not just in our federal government — but throughout the public and private sector, as well. We are calling upon mayors and governors; and parents and educators; business owners and health care providers — anyone who has a stake in giving our children the healthy, happy future that we all know they deserve.

And as I’ve said before, we don’t need new discoveries or new inventions to reverse this trend. Again, we have the tools at our disposal to reverse it. All we need is the motivation, the opportunity and the willpower to do what needs to be done.

That’s why, shortly after we started “Let’s Move,” we asked the Task Force to collect ideas and to put together a road map for what we need to do moving forward.

But we’ve also known, as Melody pointed out, from the very beginning that the solution to this epidemic isn’t going to come from just Washington alone. Not a single expert that we’ve consulted has said that having the federal government tell people what to do is the way to solve this.

That’s why the Task Force has done such a great job in reaching out to people all across the country for their ideas, as Melody has pointed out, and we’ve got terrific responses and input which has really helped to shape this report.

Today, the Task Force has submitted their report outlining important steps that federal agencies and their partners -– including businesses and the private sector -– will take in the months and years ahead to help keep our children healthy. For the first time — this is the key — we’re setting really clear goals and benchmarks and measurable outcomes that will help tackle this challenge one step, one family and one child at a time.

The effort starts with using the resources across the federal government in the most effective ways possible -– not just talking about making a difference, but actually doing it. And that’s why I am so proud of the folks behind me because they’ve really taken the lead and stepped up in their agencies.

At the Department of Agriculture, Secretary Vilsack — who couldn’t be here today, but Kathleen is — is leading the way to first reauthorize the Child Nutrition Act, to get healthier foods in our schools, and to make sure that everyone in this country has access to healthy, affordable foods in their neighborhoods.

At the Department of Health and Human Services, Secretary Sebelius is working to provide mothers with better prenatal care, and to give parents and caregivers the information they need to make healthy decisions for their families.

At the Department of Education, Secretary Duncan is working to expand opportunities for physical activity in schools, and helping our children learn how to make healthy choices for themselves.

And at the White House, Nancy-Ann DeParle worked with Secretary Sebelius and so many others to help pass health reform, the bill that is a groundbreaking piece of legislation that includes really important provisions like requiring chain restaurants to post the calories in their food, and businesses to provide opportunities for working mothers to continue to breastfeed.

This report also contains these steps, but many others -– more than 70, as Melody pointed out — including measurable benchmarks for tracking the progress. So if we do our jobs, and if we meet the goals we’ve set, we will reverse a 30-year trend and solve the problem of childhood obesity in America.

In order to make our kids maintain a healthy weight from the very beginning, we’re going to increase prenatal counseling, help pregnant mothers maintain a healthy weight. We’re also setting a goal to increase breastfeeding rates to help children get a healthy start on life.

To encourage children to eat healthier, we’re setting a goal to increase the amount of fruits that children consume to 75 percent of the recommended level by 2015. We want to increase that again to 85 percent by the year 2020, and then by the year 2030 we hope to be at 100 percent. We’re using a similar scale to increase the percentage of vegetables that our kids are eating as well. We’re also working to decrease the amount of added sugar that our kids consume from a whole range of products.

And to make sure that parents and kids are getting the right information that they need to make healthy decisions, we’re setting a goal that all primary care physicians should be assessing BMI at all well-child and adolescent visits by the year 2012. And we’re also working to increase the portion of healthy food and beverages that are advertised and targeted to our children so that within three years the majority of food and beverage ads aimed at kids will promote healthy choices.

We’re also setting benchmarks for our schools as well. We’ll be working, as I’ve said many times over the months, to double the number of schools that meet the HealthierUS School Challenge by the year 2011, and we want to add another thousand schools each year for the following two years. We’re also aiming to add an additional 2 million children to the National School Lunch Program by 2015.

And to help our kids stay active, we’re going to increase the number of high school students who participate in daily P.E. classes by 50 percent by the year 2030. And we’ll aim to increase the percentage of elementary schools that offer recess to 95 percent by the year 2015. Both these steps are aimed at boosting the number of kids of all ages who meet current physical activity guidelines.
To make it easier for parents to put healthy food on the table, we’re going to keep track of the low-income areas where residents live more than a mile from a supermarket or large grocery store, and for rural areas we’re tracking those that are more than 10 miles away. And we’ll set a goal of eliminating all those “food deserts” within seven years.

And to make it easier for kids to walk to school, we’re aiming to increase the percentage of school-age children who take safe walking and biking trips to school by 50 percent in the next five years.

In the end, that’s why this report, and this Task Force, are so important. We all know the dangers of childhood obesity, and the toll that it takes on our children, our families, and our country. We know the steps that we need to take to reverse the trend. Through “Let’s Move,” we’ve already started making some progress. We’ve gotten wonderful support from all sectors of our country.

And now, with this report, we have a very solid road map that we need to make these goals real, to solve this problem within a generation. Now we just need to follow through with the plan. We just need everyone to do their part — and it’s going to take everyone. No one gets off the hook on this one — from governments to schools, corporations to nonprofits, all the way down to families sitting around their dinner table.

And the one thing that I can promise is that as First Lady I’m going to continue to do everything that I can to focus my energy to keep this issue at the forefront of the discussion in this society so that we ensure that our children can have the healthy lives and the bright futures that they deserve.

So I am grateful to everyone here — not just members on stage, but people in the media who have really done an outstanding job to continue to keep this issue at the forefront. We’re going to keep needing to have this conversation. Our work has just begun. This road map is just the beginning. But we’re going to continue to need your help in monitoring, tracking, having the important discussions that we need to inform families about what’s going on, how to make the changes that they need. It’s not going to be easy, but we’ll do our part to stick with families and communities and reach our goals.

So I want to thank you all for the support you’ve lended this effort. I’m very proud of our federal agencies, all our secretaries and our agency heads. Every single one of them has shown a passion. They’ve seen around the country that we’re poised to make a difference in this country, that people are ready for this change.

So with that, I’ll again thank Melody for her work in leading this very efficient and effective effort, and then we’ll open it up. These secretaries will answer questions. I will leave — (laughter) — but they’re very competent to get that done.

So thank you, all. Thank you, guys. Thank you. (Applause.)

END
10:54 A.M. EDT


3 posted on 05/14/2010 2:09:49 AM PDT by Cindy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All

Video:

www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/first-lady-unveils-childhood-obesity-task-force-action-plan


4 posted on 05/14/2010 2:10:56 AM PDT by Cindy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: All

ON THE INTERNET:

www.whitehouse.gov/blog/issues/Healthy-Kids


5 posted on 05/14/2010 2:12:07 AM PDT by Cindy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Cindy
"We’re also aiming to add an additional 2 million children to the National School Lunch Program by 2015."

Why does this not surprise me??? They want to do away with those pesky parents and have the State take over all care and feeding from preschool on. They discourage any parental responsibility as well as discourage charities helping the poor. It's all supposed to be the state. Where are Mom and Dad? At the crackhouse? Gone back to TJ to bring back another load of weed? They don't need to worry about Junior. He gets 2+ meals at Public Babysitting School every day. They can drop him off at 7 and pick him up at 5.

6 posted on 05/14/2010 2:21:41 AM PDT by Yaelle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: All

Previously...

Quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2462368/posts

First Lady Credits School Cafeteria Programs for Bolstering National Security
CNS News ^ | 3/1/2010 | Penny Star
Posted on March 2, 2010 7:03:06 AM PST by IbJensen

CNSNews.com) – First lady Michelle Obama said at the School Nutrition Association Conference in Washington, D.C. on Monday that individuals who work in school cafeterias across the country not only educate and feed children, but help to strengthen national security.

“Every day, with the food you serve, you’re teaching them these critical lessons about nutrition and healthy eating,” Obama said. “You’re shaping their habits and their preferences, and you’re affecting the choices that they’re going to make for the rest of their lives.”

She said the responsibility of feeding 31 million children through school food programs at the nation’s public schools means that food workers are shaping the future of this country. She noted that the National School Lunch Program was started under President Harry S. Truman “after World War II, back when one of the most common disqualifiers for military service was malnourishment, if you can believe that.”

“And that’s why President Johnson later in 1966 expanded the program to include school breakfasts and meals at preschools because, as he put it, he said that ‘good nutrition is essential to good learning,” Obama said.

“So whether it’s national security, education or child hunger, for decades we’ve looked to you for help in achieving our most urgent national priorities,” said the first lady.

Obama’s speech is part of the “Let’s Move” campaign that she launched last month to end childhood obesity. The program has several elements, including educating parents about nutrition, partnering with states and local school districts to bring healthier meals to school cafeterias, and enlisting celebrity athletes to promote the campaign.

A task force made up of cabinet secretaries and senior Obama administration officials has 90 days to come up with more recommendations, Obama said.

The “Let’s Move” campaign also aims to eliminate “food deserts” with the $400 million a year Healthy Food Financing Initiative, which will bring grocery stores to communities without them and “help” convenience stores already in those neighborhoods offer healthier food choices.


7 posted on 05/14/2010 2:21:46 AM PDT by Cindy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All

http://michellemalkin.com/2010/05/12/big-momma-michelle-obama-food-profiteer-turned-food-cop/

Big Momma Michelle Obama: Food profiteer-turned-food cop”
By Michelle Malkin • May 12, 2010 01:06 AM

#

http://michellemalkin.com/2010/05/11/here-come-michelle-obamas-food-marketing-police/

“Here come Michelle Obama’s food marketing police”
By Michelle Malkin • May 11, 2010 11:43 AM


8 posted on 05/14/2010 2:25:56 AM PDT by Cindy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cindy

“And now, with this report, we have a very solid road map that we need to make these goals real, to solve this problem within a generation. Now we just need to follow through with the plan. We just need everyone to do their part — and it’s going to take everyone. No one gets off the hook on this one — from governments to schools, corporations to nonprofits, all the way down to families sitting around their dinner table.”

Control freak.

If energy prices necessarily skyrocket, as her dear husband wishes, we won’t have to worry about the over abundance of food.


9 posted on 05/14/2010 2:28:22 AM PDT by Bluebird Singing
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

Oh how I want these people booted back to their slimy affluent commie neighborhood in Chicago.


10 posted on 05/14/2010 2:49:01 AM PDT by sanjoaquinvalley (Long Time Lady Lurker)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: verklaring

It won’t happen.


11 posted on 05/14/2010 2:55:57 AM PDT by A Navy Vet (An Oath Is Forever!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: verklaring

When will the government stop giving food stamps to fat people?


12 posted on 05/14/2010 3:00:31 AM PDT by Hoodat (.For the weapons of our warfare are mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: verklaring

Another First Lady who thinks she’s President!


13 posted on 05/14/2010 3:17:30 AM PDT by FES0844
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: verklaring

If this passes, watch for suicide rates for fat kids to skyrocket. It’s not enough that they have to put up with teasing from classmates, but to add adults pointing out their flaws as well will be more than many can handle.


14 posted on 05/14/2010 3:31:52 AM PDT by Surtur (Are we on Athen's time yet?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: verklaring
Twinky police
15 posted on 05/14/2010 3:49:42 AM PDT by bikerman (Impeachment ! Has a nice ring to it don't you think?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: verklaring
Think Michelle Obama needs to spend time reducing that size 22 wide load she's got going on ...

really don't want this freak of nature in my life...

5'10", size 10... here

16 posted on 05/14/2010 4:03:02 AM PDT by xtinct (The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you..Be Strong Patriots!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: verklaring
To all those who said allowing the government to "protect" us from smokers would lead to losses of freedoms we couldn't imagine we might lose-I wish now we'd listened to you.

We' re all smokers now.

17 posted on 05/14/2010 4:07:07 AM PDT by wayoverontheright
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cindy

If you want to help kids lose weight, just contract hospital caterers to feed them, totally inedible.


18 posted on 05/14/2010 4:11:13 AM PDT by mapmaker77
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: FES0844

Does anyone know what Michelle’s BMI is?

I suspect this will be a short lived program. My guess is that BMI screening for children will prove to be racist.


19 posted on 05/14/2010 4:31:43 AM PDT by Liberty Ship ("Lord, make me fast and accurate.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: verklaring

Big government has been chasing us for years.

I can remember my class being weighed in grade school and a later there was some program we all had to complete - so many push ups, the 500 yard walk/run, etc.

The President’s Council on Youth Fitness was founded on 16 July 1956 to encourage American children to be healthy and active children, after a study indicating that American youths are less physically fit than European children, by then President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

In 1963, President John F. Kennedy then changed its title to President’s Council on Physical Fitness to reflect its role to serve all Americans.


20 posted on 05/14/2010 4:59:26 AM PDT by donna (Sarah Palin: " ...all of us, who consider ourselves progressive...")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-24 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson