http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kcur/local-kcur-912387.mp3
Kansas City, MO – First Lady Michelle Obama brought her campaign to combat childhood obesity to Kansas City today. She delivered the keynote address at the national NAACP convention, which is in town this week.
Michelle Obama said obesity is a national epidemic. One in every three children in the United States is overweight. And like other problems, she said it's hitting the African American community particularly hard.
"It's important to be clear that this issue isn't about how our kids look," the first lady said. "It's about how our kids feel. It's about their health and the health of our nation, and the health of our economy."
Michelle Obama said much has changed since she grew up: fresh produce isn't readily available, schools offer few opportunities for exercise, and parents aren't setting good examples for eating and activity.
"And taken together all of these things have made for a perfect storm of bad habits and unhealthy choices. A lifestyle that's dooming too many of our children to a lifetime of poor health."
Organizers say more than 4000 delegates from around the country are at this week's convention.
Listen to First Lady Michelle Obama's entire address to the NAACP convention here.
