YMCA Hosts First Lady Michelle Obama, as She Announces Plans to Help Americans Lead Healthier Lives

On Thursday, Jan. 28, the Alexandria YMCA, part of the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington, hosted First Lady Michelle Obama, who announced plans to help Americans lead healthier lives through better nutrition, regular physical activity, and by encouraging communities to support healthy choices. The First Lady, joined by Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, said the surge in obesity is nothing short of a public health crisis that is threatening the lives of children and families across the country.

YMCA of the USA President and CEO Neil Nicoll opened the event and introduced Dr. Benjamin, who released the Surgeon General’s Vision for a Healthy and Fit Nation. The report highlights the alarming trend of overweight and obese Americans, and asks Americans to join Dr. Benjamin in a grassroots effort to commit to changes that promote the health and wellness of families and communities. 

Previously, the First Lady announced that she will launch a major initiative on childhood obesity in the next few weeks. A recent report revealed that the prevalence of obesity has more than doubled among adults and has tripled among children and adolescents from 1980 to 2004. Currently, two-thirds of adults and nearly one in three children are overweight or obese. The First Lady has asked the YMCA to be engaged in those efforts.

On Thursday, she discussed her firsthand experience with the challenges of raising healthy kids in today’s environment and mentioned the role of organizations such as the YMCA in helping kids and families adopt healthy lifestyles. 

"The Y has been a leader in ensuring that families and communities all over this country have access to places to play," the First Lady said.

YMCAs provide safe and affordable spaces and programs to help both kids and adults learn, grow and thrive. In fact, for nearly 160 years, YMCAs have offered programs that strengthen the physical, emotional and spiritual health of millions of individuals from all backgrounds and in all types of communities. Over the past several years, YMCAs have increased efforts to help stem the tide of rising obesity rates.