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Michelle Obama On Larry King Live: The Fit vs. Fat Debate Continues
Michelle Obama, with her uncanny combination of poise and playfulness, sat down with Larry King last night to officially launch her Let’s Move program, a National campaign to encourage healthy eating and fight the childhood obesity epidemic. But while many applaud her for starting a conversation (and putting her money – or at least Federal funds – where her mouth is), others are criticizing her for bringing her own girls, Sasha and Malia, into the mix and making their private weight issues a public matter. In her sit down with Larry, she gave both sides fuel for their fire.
Larry indulged the first lady for the first few minutes and they chatted about the program, it’s goals, the new task force and the $10 billion price tag to overhaul the calorie-laden and nutrient-deficient food being fed 29 million kids in our schools across America. It’s a very impressive and audacious plan. But then he charged in and asked Michelle to comment on this latest hot topic – how she felt about the criticism being hurled at her, did she feel it was justified, should she talk about her kids’ brush with fat?
Obviously prepared for this query, Michelle held her own and tried to keep things general but with a personal touch — she echoed previous sentiments about coming to this issue as a mom, the need to share her personal struggle to connect with the people and a continuing mantra that the issue at hand is “not about weight and looks but about health and quality of life.” But despite her insistence that this issue is about the inside (fit), not the outside (fat), there were still moments I agreed with her detractors, and felt she was saying “My doctor said my girls were fat so we made some changes.” But does that really matter in the big picture? Should this secondary issue really cloud the primary problem at hand?
Self-Esteem expert Jess Weiner weighed in on this for us:
Michelle Obama did a common mom mistake by choosing to talk about her daughter’s body to someone other than her daughter! And to a media no less that is already obsessed with body image and girls – the ramifications aren’t even beginning for her in how this will impact her daughter’s self-esteem. I know she meant well and meant to talk about the inspiration for her concern but to pin your child as the poster child for potential obesity at age 8 is just misinformed and wrong!
But Jess couldn’t deny that the obesity epidemic is a very worth cause to tackle:
“I do think we need to do something drastic about our children’s health – we just have to streamline the language parent’s use and make sure it is sensitive and knowledgeable about girls/eating disorders/self-confidence.”
Agreeing with Jess, it does seem like this was a case of “It’s not what you do (the program), it’s how you do it (keep your girls out of it?) that’s plaguing Michelle but most likely won’t slow her down. There’s definitely room for support, conversations and strategies for both the national dilemma and more personal struggles. Hopefully we can find our way to both.
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[...] Lucky for Jamie, his award (and his overall plan — see below) nicely dovetailed with Michelle Obama’s nutrition reform plan and her personal mission to tackle the obesity [...]
Jamie Oliver’s Wish: Teach Every Child About Food And Help Fight Obesity | Strollerderby commented on Feb 12 10 at 4:54 pm[...] the true statist, she is pushing for more federal funds in the program for fresh food choices. (Remember where the food from the Huntington grammar school [...]
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The Revolution Will Be Televised | The Armchair Energist commented on Apr 16 10 at 5:42 pmTom Loughrey commented on Feb 10 10 at 12:59 pmComments
This is a very complex issue to address in such a very short time. While so many focus on the term “obesity epidemic” we must realize that this may be either a “physical inactivity epidemic” or at the more basic level, concerns about the entire concept of ENERGY BALANCE. As we work to design school-based Health and Physical Education programs that focus on the “development of active, healthy lifestyly behaviors” as opposed to sports skills and fitness testing, the emphasis must be on K-12 learning activities that will focus on all aspects of being physically activity (and fit) and on all aspects of energy intake (nutrition and dietary behaviors). All of these learning experiences must be framed in an overall program that also considers the school, home, and community environments that are necessary to promote active lifestyles and healthy eating. In addition, emphasis must be placed on helping children feel they are capable (self-efficacy) of making choices (Valuing) that will serve to enhance both the length of their life and the quality of their life. While all these factors are found only in limited educational settings, where they have been implemented, we are seeing a decrease in unhealthy weight, an increase in physical activity (both within the school’s physical education program and in out-of-school activities), and most surprisingly – where we see these positive changes, the changes also have a dramatic and positive effect on academic performance, particularly in math and communication arts. As this is a complex problem that needs a societal remedy, we must all consider comprehensive approaches to these problems. Where we have health programs and PE programs that focus on LIFESTYLE BEHAVIORS, all in the school setting and many in the community benefit greatly.
Angela commented on Feb 10 10 at 3:46 pmI read Michelle’s statement and didn’t feel that she divulged too much. She never actually said that her daughters were fat or disclosed their BMIs, only that the Dr noted a worrisome trend and that minor adjustments corrected it. Actually I think that by making weight issues a dirty, little secret it only reinforces the idea that our worth is determined by size. Realizing that weight issues are a health concern affecting most American families is not shameful. Making healthy changes to your lifestyle is not shameful. I applaud the Obamas for their efforts to bring this issue out for some much needed open and honest discussion.
Louise commented on Feb 10 10 at 5:25 pmAngela: exactly, exactly, exactly! It’s not an easy task, but I think we need to move toward encouraging an approach to this that’s similar to that associated with other health issues. We aren’t worried that our children should be embarrassed by our revealing that they have an ear infection, strep throat, whatever…ideally, this should be treated in the same way.
And, yes, I know…weight is a loaded issue. But how is it ever not going to be that way if we don’t start discussing it openly?
Louise commented on Feb 10 10 at 5:26 pmOops…make that “will be embarrassed”…not “should be embarrassed”…
Natural Treatments commented on Oct 19 10 at 1:11 ammichelle obama deserves to be listed as one of Forbes most influential women;”-
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