On February 9, 2010, President Barack Obama signed a Presidential Memorandum establishing a National Taskforce on Childhood Obesity. The Taskforce is charged with developing and presenting an interagency plan for addressing childhood obesity that "details a coordinated strategy by executive departments and agencies to meet the objectives of the Task Force and identifies areas for reform to ensure complementary efforts and avoid duplication, both across the Federal Government and between other public or nongovernmental actors (emphasis added)." 

As part of this effort, First Lady Michelle Obama launched the Let's Move initiative.  This multi-pronged effort aims to address childhood obesity by overcoming the monetary, organizational, environmental, medical, educational and communications barriers that prevent children from eating healthier and engaging in more physical activity. Some of these obstacles and Let's Move's strategies for addressing them are outlined below.

• Monetary: The federal government was roundly criticized for de-funding the VERB initiative.  Let's Move (and associated efforts) will be backed up by $1 billion a year in federal funds over a 10-year period
• Organizational:  In the past, anti-obesity efforts have been hampered by lack of coordination and competition for scarce resources at the national and local level. To address this issue, the First Lady and a host of private and public sector partners have established the Partnership for a Healthier America.  The Partnership's goal is to develop "a strong network of members across the business, government, academic, and nonprofit sectors that will accelerate efforts to address childhood obesity in support of the First Lady’s national target of solving the crisis within a generation."
• Environmental:  Let's Move is dedicated to helping disadvantaged children access healthier foods.  Specifically, "the Healthy Food Financing Initiative -- a partnership between the U.S. Departments of Treasury, Agriculture and Health and Human Services will invest $400 million a year to provide innovative financing to bring grocery stores to underserved areas and help places such as convenience stores and bodegas carry healthier food options."  (This program is subject to Congressional approval.) 
• Medical: Let's Move has partnered with the American Academy of Pediatrics to ensure physician regularly monitor children's body mass index during routine visits. 
• Educational:  Let's Move is focusing on providing children and parents with information about the nutritional value of food by: 
  • Working with the FDA to develop new labeling for foods and beverages that is easier to read and understand
  • Revamping the Food Pyramid "symbol and online interactive tools"
  • Providing tips and toolkits designed to help parents and children "get moving"
• Communications:  Anti-obesity Let's Move messages are being communicated by the First Lady and will involve additional efforts led by celebrities, major media companies and others -- nationally and locally

See below for a video featuring the First Lady focusing on Let's Move.

2011 Activities

In January 2011, First Lady Michelle Obama announced a major initiative with Wal-Mart designed to increase the availablility of healthy foods.  According to the New York Times, "the plan, similar to efforts by other companies and to public health initiatives by New York City, sets specific targets for lowering sodium, trans fats and added sugars in a broad array of foods — including rice, soups, canned beans, salad dressings and snacks like potato chips — packaged under the company’s house brand, Great Value."