Michelle Obama discusses health care reform with Good Morning America's Robin Roberts

AP Photo/Alex Brandon

Michelle Obama discussed her views on health care reform with Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts. The First Lady was quick to point out that change must be made when it comes to taking care of our individual health. The dramatic rise in obesity related illnesses is a sure sign that we have to do something different. The First Lady put it simply, “we are in charge of our own health.”

The First Lady’s message to Roberts was that health care reform is not going to make a difference unless we start taking care of ourselves by eating better and exercising. A practical suggestion by the First Lady was to walk for thirty minutes, five times per week. There is virtually no cost related to walking more each day, however the health benefits have been shown to be significant, particularly in sedentary individuals.

The First Lady mentioned the astronomical sum of money our nation spends per year in additional costs due to chronic illnesses, which is approximately $120 billion. This number will continue to grow due to the increasing number of unhealthy children in this nation. The First Lady pointed out that one in every two African American and Latino kids are obese and that translates to an increased risk of developing diabetes or other chronic illnesses. The First Lady also offered hope that we can change the growing trend of developing chronic illnesses at a younger age.

One change the First Lady sees happening is improvements with school lunch programs in the nation’s public schools. Many children are eating both breakfast and lunch at school, therefore the meals they are served on a daily basis must provide them with a balance of essential nutrients. School lunch program menus typically include fatty foods such chicken nuggets and pizza. The trend moving forward must include offering kids more healthful choices like whole grains, legumes, fresh fruits and fresh organic vegetables.

The next step for our nation is to educate individuals on the importance of making their health a priority. Teaching people how to care for their health through proper nutrition and physical activity is key, as is offering simple ways to transition to a healthy lifestyle. With the First Lady leading the way towards wellness and with the growing number of people jumping on the health bandwagon we are headed in right direction.