The Obama children and child obesity
President Barack Obama is in Baltimore today, but it's his wife's last pronouncement on her campaign against childhood obesity that's caught my attention. As the president did several months ago in an education speech, First Lady Michelle Obama has taken a personal tack -- divulging some private information about her children -- to drive home her point about early intervention in kids' health.
In remarks at a YMCA in Virginia, Obama said her daughters' pediatrician warned her -- some time ago, apparently -- that the girls were getting "off track" in terms of body-mass index, according to this story. After the family made some simple changes -- making sure Sasha and Malia got enough exercise, offering vegetables and fruit at meals, limiting TV -- the change in the children's health was dramatic, she said.
In many ways, the First Lady is pointing a finger at herself with this story. She's saying she didn't notice that her children needed to eat better because she saw them as "perfect," as many parents do.
Any busy mom can relate. When we're told our children aren't measuring up to some standard, our first instinct is to feel enormously guilty. The personal aspect brings the story home and helps us remember how important the message is.
On the other hand, I do wonder about the kids' privacy factor here, and how disclosures like these could open the door to unwanted scrutiny for the first daughters. (In a poll here about the education speech, the majority of you felt grade information, for example, should be shared only with the child's permission or not at all, period.)
(Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Comments
I feel strongly that it's ok to divulge information about your children if you think it might help others in a similar situation. I do it often in my blog. Of course, there is a limit. But in this case, the Obama children are no longer overweight -- so they should not suffer from the remarks. I think the age of the children also factors in. The older they get, the less likely they are going to want you to use them as an example and the more aware of it they will be. Overall, however, I think that sharing personal stories and struggles make a huge difference. People can see the First Lady as a real person, a real mother, who has the same problems we do. And her message carries soo much more weight that way -- no pun intended.
Posted by: Betsy | January 29, 2010 1:38 PM
Plus, she didn't say that the doctor called her kids fat. She used the phrase "off track."
I think it's a powerful message. So many parents have their heads in the sand when it comes to their kids' weight. How many times does a parent with a kid that has a high BMI actually admit that the child has a weight problem. I think Mrs. Obama's words could go a long way in getting some parents to realize it's not just "baby fat."
Posted by: Kayris | January 29, 2010 2:00 PM
I hope the administration takes it much farther than offering up its own personal example, because so many parents and children are disconnected from the resources the Obamas had at their disposal. For instance, the University of Massachusetts at Lowell finally funded a project with its own grant to launch a pilot program at the Lowell Boys and Girls Club. Kids get access to nutritional counseling, planned activity programs, education, actual healthy foods they can prepare together to share with family members, and tracking of their insulin levels. The families, scientists, and community workers are wracked with worry, though: when this limited funding runs out, how will they continue the program and expand it to include the children who are joining in now?
Let's not wait to scale up every program running now in the country. There is so much at stake.
Posted by: Mary Porter | January 30, 2010 9:27 AM
Michelle Malkin: First Lady drags daughters into obesity campaign
http://michellemalkin.com/2010/02/01/first-lady-drags-daughters-into-obesity-campaign/
Posted by: StewartIII | February 1, 2010 5:44 PM
many parents and children are disconnected from the resources the Obamas had at their disposal. For instance, the University of Massachusetts at Lowell finally funded a project with its own grant to launch a pilot program at the Lowell Boys and Girls Club. Kids get access to nutritional counseling, planned activity programs, education, actual healthy foods they can prepare together to share with family members, and tracking of their insulin levels.
Posted by: gizlesene | December 27, 2010 5:21 PM