About thirty years ago, obesity was not a common thing in
America, let alone child obesity. American’s led live to keep themselves
healthy. Kids were active with walking to and from school, playing at recess
and having gym class. Most Americans enjoyed the typical home cooked family
dinner, but those are rare and it’s much easier to just go out or order in
food. Children typically were only eating one snack a day; nowadays one in five
aged children has up to six snacks a day. Portion sizes are also not what they
use to be. They are now two to five times bigger than the average size.
Lifestyles are very different for the average American. Technology has had a
toll but also budget cuts on gym classes and extraciricular activities.
Michelle Obama, the first lady, has found that this is a problem and one that
she can help fix.
Michelle Obama grew up in the South Side of Chicago. Her
parents, Fraser and Marian Robinson, raised her and also had an older brother
named Craig. Her household was filled with love, laughter and important life
lessons while her mother stayed at home and her father was a pump operator for
the water department. She graduated from Chicago public schools and Princeton
University. Following graduation she started to work with people to help their
communities and neighbors. In 1996, she became Associate Dean of Student
Services at the University of Chicago. With this position she developed the
University of Chicago’s first community service program. Once becoming first
lady she decided on a new project, obesity in America.
In 2010, first lady, Michelle Obama, started the Let’s Move
program. This program uses comprehensive strategies with common sense to put
children on a healthier lifestyle path. The main focus of this program is child
obesity and reducing it but there are also helpful tips for adults as well.
During the launch of this new program President Barack Obama signed a
Memorandum creating a task force on child obesity. Let’s Move is all about
giving parents what they need to provide healthier food in schools, help kids
get fit, and just be healthier. Michelle Obama has had a positive impact on American
lives, but she did try to take away a beloved sesame street character names the
cookie monster. This did not sit well with the public. Veggie monster didn’t stick
for very long. Mrs. Obama is continuing her work on the issues by supporting
families, helping women balance careers and fighting child obesity.
http://www.letsmove.gov/about
http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/first-lady-michelle-obama
Hannah,
ReplyDeleteThis is a very interesting social issue and person you have chosen to represent it because the topic is something that is very easy for people to relate to today. Everyone knows of someone who struggles with obesity. I also liked the person you chose because Michelle Obama is a commonly known figure in the American public. I liked how you compared the eating habits of kids it today’s world as compared to thirty years ago to help give the reader a sense of just how differently today’s world is as compared to then when obesity was not much of an issue. Furthermore, I like how you gave her background story as to how Michelle came to be in this position to have this type of impact on the lives of young American’s today. I think you did a great job of mimicking Dos Pasos and Packer, but I wish you would have included a direct quote from Michelle to make it a little more personal and to show her thoughts on the issue and how she feels about her program is working right now.
Hannah,
ReplyDeleteI really like your writing because you speak the truth. Many people hate to admit that the United States has an eating disorder problem. People know that it is their own decision to stuff the food in their faces, and they think that no one can stop them. Well Michelle changed that for many people by introducing the healthy food transformation in schools for children encouraging them that they can still eat, but eat healthy. I think that you chose a great example of someone who helps improve this social issue. Michelle really helps improve the obesity issue in the United States. In my opinion not only does she help the children but she also helps the adults. By improving the healthy eating habits they encourage their parents to start eating healthy too. I really liked the way your writing flowed from the cause to the introduction of Michelle, to the solution because of her. Overall, well done, I thought this was very interesting!
Hannah,
ReplyDeleteThe structure of your biography works really well. You present us with your chosen issue first, grounding it as a problem that has not been faced by previous generations and, thus, in need of innovative thinking. You then transition to a potential representative for that kind of work: Michelle Obama. However, you help use learn about her life before jumping to her current work, showing us how her professional history of civic engagement qualifies her to address childhood obesity. You then show us some of the specific programs that she has created since becoming the First Lady. Since she is such as high profile, national figure, your biography also shows how some ideas can backfire in very public ways, such as trying to remove Cookie Monster from Sesame Street.
If your group decides to consider Michelle Obama, be sure to provide more details about the social issue of childhood obesity, including statistical data and the various factors that contribute to it.