First Lady Michelle Obama kicks her campaign against childhood obesity to a new level

Michelle Obama kicks her campaign into action

First Lady Michelle Obama took her campaign against childhood obesity to a new level yesterday, when she actively participated in a soccer game and training exercises.

Dressed in a black tracksuit and sneakers, Obama talked to a group of youngsters in Washington about the importance of exercise and how fun it can be:

“In addition to eating right, listening to your parents, eating right at school, you all have to exercise, and soccer is one of my favorite ways of doing it.“

The First Lady went on to talk about the merits of the game in teaching skills that can be transferred to any other sport, and mentioned her family’s personal love of it:

“My little girls started playing soccer when they were three. Sasha plays basketball a little bit more now, but Malia loves soccer. It gets you running, it gets your heart beating, it gives you good foot movement and even if you like basketball or tennis or any other sports, soccer teaches you the fundamentals that will help you with any other sport that you are interested in.“

Speeches aside, Michelle rolled up her sleeves and took part in a game herself, where she was tackled by a youngster at the goal and got her own pulse racing as she manoeuvered her way through warm-up exercises with the kids.

According to the New York Post, the First Lady admitted she could do with a lesson from her own girls on leg skills and reportedly told one of players: “I’m not a soccer player, so you’ve got to help me out here. Promise you’ll help me out?”

Obama’s participation in the clinic came as a new partnership between the U.S. Soccer Foundation and the National Alliance for Hispanic Health was announced, according to the Associated Press.

As part of Michelle’s “Let’s Move” campaign, the two groups will be conducting a 25-city tour, which will offer free health screening to kids and their families, as well as soccer clinics, the news provider reported.

The former lawyer has previously stated that the idea behind her initiative is simple. Speaking in a meeting of U.S. Conference of Mayors, she reportedly talked of her intention “to put in place common-sense initiatives and solutions that empower families and communities to make healthy decisions for their kids”.

As Michelle promotes healthy living, her husband, President Barack Obama, is still struggling to quit his smoking habit.

source: celebrities-with-diseases