First lady appeals to governors for help fighting obesity

WASHINGTON - First lady Michelle Obama appealed yesterday to the nation's governors to join in her initiative to reduce childhood obesity, saying years of hand-wringing over what has become a national crisis should give way to coordinated action by Washington and the states.

Hers was a rare appearance by a first lady at the annual winter meeting of the National Governors Association, adding luster and many additional cameras and attendees at the opening session of the group's three-day gathering in Washington.

Obama cited the goals of her recently announced Let's Move initiative and praised many of the governors for the work already under way.

"There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this problem," she said, adding that while the nation needs a comprehensive approach to fighting childhood obesity "that doesn't necessarily mean an expensive approach."

"We have to be honest to ourselves," she said. "Our kids didn't do this to themselves."

The Let's Move initiative includes four major goals: providing parents with information and support to help children eat properly; ensuring schools offer more healthful food; helping children get regular physical activity; and ensuring healthful food is available.

Warning that "our kids can't afford for us to get this wrong," Obama said "let's stop wringing our hands and citing statistics. Let's move."

The first lady talked about a music video game that turns dancing into exercise.

"We got it at Camp David and it will make you sweat," she said. "It is addictive in a good way. The president still can't do it."