Maria Puente, USA TODAY 5:27 p.m. EDT September 6, 2013
Michelle Obama and star athletes like Shaquille O'Neal highlight the successes of her anti-obesity campaign at a D.C. public school.
First lady Michelle Obama demonstrated today, for the umpteenth time, that she can hold her own with the brightest star athletes.
Dressed in on-trend athletic wear, Mrs. O was joined by retired NBA star Shaquille O'Neal, sprinter Allyson Felix and gymnast Dominique Dawes at a public school in Washington to highlight some of the successes of her nearly 4-year-old Let's Move campaign against childhood obesity.
As usual, the first lady wasn't afraid of getting a little exercise, joining O'Neal and a couple of dozen fourth- and fifth-graders at Orr Elementary School for a workout.
In her remarks, Obama said she started out her campaign with some doubts about whether it could really make a difference. No more. She cited new statistics that show a decline in obesity rates among young children, and pointed to the growing number of schools, including all 111 D.C. schools, that have signed up to provide 60 minutes of physical activity a day before, during and after school.
Who would have thought, before 2010, she said, that there'd be ads on TV for egg-white breakfast sandwiches, or restaurant menus for kids featuring veggies, fruits, whole grains and low-fat milk and not just nuggets, fries and soda?
"So make no mistake about it, we are changing the conversation in this country," she said, according to the White House transcript. "We are creating a cultural shift in how we live and eat. And our efforts are beginning to have a real impact on our children's lives."
In case the kids didn't get the message, she pointed to the example of the towering O'Neal, even taller than Obama. "Shaq didn't get to be a big, tall all-star by eating just junk food," she said.
O'Neal is an ambassador for Reebok, whose president, Uli Becker, also was there to announce that the Reebok Foundation will provide some 500 schools with a grant of $1,000 each to bring its BOKS program, incorporating physical activity and nutrition programming for kids, to schools.
"Active kids are not only healthier, but they have better grades, attendance and behavior," O'Neal said. "Working with the first lady and the BOKS team is something I'm very proud of."
Source:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/...
Posted By: How May I Help You NC
Sunday, September 8th 2013 at 3:04PM
You can also
click
here to view all posts by this author...
