New Campaign Revives Old Strategies Against Childhood Obesity

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In February 2010, Michelle Obama launched the “Let’s Move!” campaign aimed at reducing childhood obesity in the United States. The initiative focused on reducing processed foods and sugary drinks while encouraging children to engage in outdoor play. Critics, particularly on the conservative side, labeled the campaign as government overreach, suggesting it aimed to control American eating habits.

Fast forward to today, and some conservatives are embracing similar goals under the Trump administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) initiative. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is rehashing the strategies of the Obama era, even admitting that his department is now naming the food industry as a significant factor contributing to obesity.

Jerold Mande, a former USDA official under Obama, commented, “They did something we were hesitant to do, which is to identify the food industry as the root cause of the problem.” Nevertheless, Mande contrasted the approaches of the two administrations, stating that Kennedy’s current strategy relies mainly on pressuring food companies to change their products without new regulations.

The original Let’s Move campaign emerged to counter a serious public health concern: approximately one in three children in America faced overweight or obesity challenges. Michelle Obama, while relatable as a busy mom, wanted to make dietary changes less burdensome. She enlisted celebrities, including Beyoncé, to promote healthier eating.

Food corporations seemed to respond positively; Walmart committed to reducing sugar and sodium levels in its store brands by significant percentages by 2015. Similarly, Darden Restaurants pledged to cut calories and sodium in its menu offerings. These commitments indicated that corporate America might take the issue of public health more seriously.

However, experts have pointed out that informal agreements lack the enforcement of regulatory measures. For instance, Olive Garden‘s popular dish, the “Tour of Italy,” contains over 3,200 milligrams of sodium, which exceeds the recommended daily limit.

Recent communications with Darden revealed a lack of tracking on the progress related to their pledges, while Walmart noted a slight reduction in sugar and sodium within its store brands, but not universally across all products.

Despite some achievements, many industry changes may have little impact. Food industry reforms often fail to translate into meaningful dietary improvements for consumers, and past pledges, like those made under Let’s Move, have not consistently led to better health outcomes.

Debra Eschmeyer, former head of Let’s Move, maintains that the campaign initiated some progress, such as influencing McDonald’s to add apple slices to Happy Meals. However, she acknowledges that consumer choices heavily dictate corporate behavior.

Interestingly, Kennedy’s MAHA strategy shows some early successes in consumer demand shifts, with several companies adapting product formulations. Yet, his aggressive stance on food industry practices has raised concerns. Kennedy has publicly criticized corporations for poisoning children through unhealthy food practices.

Unlike the more lenient suggestions from Let’s Move, MAHA proposes strict physical fitness challenges. Kennedy’s approach, aimed at reigniting interest in fitness, might be perceived as overly ambitious and impractical for the average American.

Amid these developments, experts remain cautious. Ezekiel Emanuel, a former health adviser under Obama, agrees with the importance of addressing obesity but warns that simplistic strategies focusing on individual ingredients may detract from the broader issue.

As both campaigns reveal, without substantial reform and cooperation from the food industry, tackling childhood obesity remains a daunting challenge. Many are waiting to see if Kennedy’s promises will yield real changes, a situation reminiscent of past initiatives.