This past week Michelle Obama kicked off a campaign to begin a national movement to fight childhood obesity. Obesity has been on the rise and year after year the numbers reach new shocking highs. Current statistics show that 2/3 of all adults and 1 in 3 of all children in this country are overweight or obese.

The number of overweight children has tripled over the last thirty years. Overweight and obese children are setting themselves up to a lifetime of health issues. Included in the list are sleep apnea, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, fatty liver disease all of which can lead to premature death. Children who are overweight are often teased and ridiculed by their peers. Many overweight kids lack confidence and often suffer from depression.

The campaign, was in part, inspired by a warning from the Obama family Doctor who told Mrs. Obama that her children were becoming overweight. She took a stance in her household, changing the girl’s diets.

Their new eating plan included switching to low fat milk, cutting back on food like burgers as well as reducing portion sizes. Sugary beverages were replaced with water. Grapes, apple slices and colorful vegetables were added to their daily menu. A repeat visit to the doctor showed great results with these simple changes.

Michelle Obama along with the US Surgeon General Regina Benjamin appeared together at the program launch. The surgeon general talked of her struggles with her own weight. Both she and Mrs. Obama encouraged healthier eating. The campaign is set to encourage eating of more fruits and vegetables, pushing for higher quality physical education in schools and working to bring more supermarkets into low income communities.

Currently the United States spends approximately 150 billion dollars a year in the fight against obesity. In comparison that is more than what is spends on fighting cancer each year. Not to mention that the cost of fighting obesity has doubled over the last decade.

It is at such a critical level that a good chunk of economic stimulus money is being used on programs to fight obesity. 650 million dollars in stimulus funds is being spent to fight obesity and smoking. The cost of healthcare can be astronomical for the obese and with the rising costs of health care, spending money now could save a bundle in the future.