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First lady: U.S. children facing ‘crisis of inactivity’
The Washington Times ^ | November 30, 2011 | Dave Boyer

Posted on 12/01/2011 9:29:16 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks

America’s children are experiencing a “crisis of inactivity,” first lady Michelle Obama said Wednesday.

“We may well be raising the most sedentary generation of kids in the history of this country,” Mrs. Obama said at an event in Washington to promote more healthful lifestyles for youth. “Kids today reportedly spend an average of seven and a half hours a day watching TV, playing with cellphones, computer games, video games.”

The first lady has made it her cause to combat childhood obesity by promoting more healthful diets and encouraging groceries with fresh produce to move into underserved communities. But she said those efforts are “not enough.”

“There is still more to do,” she said, “because we all know that the problem isn’t just what’s happening at meal time or at snack time. It’s also about how our kids are spending the rest of their time each and every day.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other ailments.

Mrs. Obama said only 25 percent of children play outside each day, compared with 75 percent of kids 20 years ago. And she said only 18 percent of high school students get the recommended one hour of physical activity per day.

The lack of exercise even affects the military, disqualifying 27 percent of young adults from serving and forcing the Defense Department to spend more on training to get recruits combat-ready, Mrs. Obama added.

“When we’re talking about getting kids running around and playing again, it is important to understand that this isn’t just about fun and games,” the first lady said. “This isn’t a joke. It’s about their health. It’s about their success in school. It’s about our economy...

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


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: children; exercise; michelleobama; nannystate
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To: dancusa
You also had the experience of making decisions on your own then and learning the consequences of those decisions. Now people are not put in that position until much later in adolescence, when I believe the stakes can be much higher.

When Mom's hovering over you 24/7, driving you everywhere, arranging your "play dates", you don't learn a whole lot about autonomy and cause and effect.

21 posted on 12/02/2011 4:36:44 AM PST by riri
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To: riri

The gall of this marxist, equal-opportunity, affirmative action, grifter fatso! The only “inactivity” in the White House is the absence of honesty, character and integrity. mooch-elle is the “Worst Lady”. Why doesn’t she go on yet another taxpayer-funded vacation with her entourage of losers?


22 posted on 12/02/2011 4:56:20 AM PST by hal ogen (First Amendment or Reeducation Camp?)
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To: dancusa

My sister told us recently at a family gathering that she took the bus into NY (from northern NJ), got on the subway, and went to Alexander’s Department store when she was 7. This was years ago, and apparently no one thought it was strange for a 7 year old to get on a bus going NY and take a subway. I come from a big family, so nobody really missed her for a full day. My mother said that she could have at least told us where she was going before she left.

CPS would be all over my family if that happened today.


23 posted on 12/02/2011 5:15:38 AM PST by goldi (')
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
The umbrella exercise -


24 posted on 12/02/2011 5:33:54 AM PST by Libloather (The epitome of civility.)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

“... encouraging groceries with fresh produce to move into...”

I’d like to encourage bags of bottles with aged bourbon inside to move into my house.


25 posted on 12/02/2011 6:02:46 AM PST by sergeantdave
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To: riri
Excellent point. My 18 year old daughter just got her license. She is so happy that I don't have to drive her to college(local CC) and work anymore. She loves the independence.

I was putting more miles on my car driving her around town, then driving 20 mile round trip to my job. Fortunately for her, I work nights and always available during the day.

We have had many conversations about the freedom of my youth (with very strict parents) compared to the present day nanny state with new rules now coming from the government.

26 posted on 12/02/2011 8:26:01 AM PST by dancusa (You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity, by legislating the wealth out of prosperity.)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

“”The first lady has made it her cause “”

How sweet! Isn’t it more like “the first lady has made it her business?”


27 posted on 12/02/2011 10:02:09 AM PST by Thank You Rush
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To: Thank You Rush
Mr. President, does your wife realize she has a weight problem while she is preaching the weight issue to the youth of America?

This has to asked, yea right.

28 posted on 12/02/2011 1:59:27 PM PST by AGreatPer (Obama has NEVER given a speech where he did not lie!!!)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Thanks for the ping!


29 posted on 12/02/2011 9:28:54 PM PST by Alamo-Girl
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