By , ,
Published May 15, 2015
First Lady Michelle Obama announced her new campaign against childhood obesity earlier this month, called "Let's Move." In an exclusive interview Saturday with Fox News Channel's Mike Huckabee, she discussed the importance of finding a solution to the childhood obesity epidemic, and how the issue concerns her as First Lady and as a mother.
Huckabee, former presidential candidate and host of "Huckabee," said he felt the interview was a great match for himself and the First Lady, because of his previous work on childhood obesity. During his 10 years as governor of Arkansas, he made it a goal to fight the increased weight problems of young people.
"Arkansas was the only state that reversed the trend of childhood obesity, the rate actually declined and we did a lot of things very aggressively to do that. It was a priority," Huckabee said.
During the interview, which took place Friday in a first grade classroom in Philadelphia, Huckabee said he was very impressed by Obama and the relaxed, gracious environment she provided.
He told FoxNews.com that she has a great attitude with the "Let's Move" campaign, and isn't pointing any fingers.
"One of the things that I appreciated most was that in her perspective, this is not a blame game. It's not a matter of saying the government needs to fix this, that is not her position, which is refreshing," Huckabee said.
He also presented the First Lady with some tough questions on the issue. Michelle Obama has often said "we" need to do something about childhood obesity. Huckabee wanted to know, exactly who is "we"?
Her answer? It is the parents, the pediatricians, the food companies, and the schools — it is everyone, Huckabee said, adding that it's a cultural issue as a whole.
The "Let's Move" campaign has four parts:
— helping parents make better food choices;
— serving healthier food in school vending machines and lunch lines;
— making healthy food more available and affordable;
— encouraging children to exercise more.
Huckabee said he believes one of the main reasons for the growing problem of obese children in America is technology. When he was young, he didn't have video games, computers or iPods. Without those technological options, he did a lot of sweating and physical activity outside, he said.
"The average kid spends seven-and-a-half hours a day with some form of electronic entertainment, and that is far too much time," Huckabee said.
One in three American children are overweight or obese, putting them at higher risk of developing diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and other illnesses. Billions of dollars are spent every year treating obesity-related conditions. And public health experts say today's kids are on track to have shorter life spans than their parents.
Obama and Huckabee both agreed during the interview that a lot of the success of the "Let's Move" campaign will depend on personal responsibility.
"Fast food companies don't make us fat, we have to put it in our mouths," Huckabee said. "And the quantities, we have to choose. You are personally responsible for your health."
So by the end of the interview, was Huckabee convinced that Michelle Obama's goal of ending childhood obesity could be achieved?
"She can tackle it, she can start it, but I've said for a long time this is a generational change," said Huckabee. "This needs to be looked at as how are we going to affect the next generation, not the next election."
Mike Huckabee's exclusive interview with First Lady Michelle Obama will air at 8 p.m. Saturday, 8 p.m. Sunday and 11 p.m. on Fox News Channel.
For more information on Michelle Obama's campaign, visit www.letsmove.gov
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
https://www.foxnews.com/story/first-lady-michelle-obama-tackles-childhood-obesity-on-huckabee