First Lady Warns That Obesity Problem Could Hurt Business

March 15, 2011
National Journal

Michelle Obama told city and community leaders on Tuesday that if they do not take steps to tackle the nation’s childhood-obesity epidemic they risk hampering their communities’ economic viability.

Obama has long pushed curbing childhood obesity as a critical health issue, but with her speech before the National League of Cities conference, the first lady made her case in dollars and cents.

“Make no mistake about it, when we talk about childhood obesity we’re talking about the workforce you’re trying to build,” Obama told the local leaders at their annual conference. “We’re talking about the businesses you’re trying to attract.”

 

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