Olympics Committee promotes Michelle Obama’s anti-obesity initiative

The White House announced Monday that the U.S. Olympic Committee is joining first lady Michelle Obama is promote her Let’s Move! anti-obesity initiative.

The commitment promotes the nonprofit Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA), where Obama holds the honorary chairmanship.

The Olympic Committee and PHA will jointly evaluate and monitor the progress of voluntary commitments made by 10 national sports regulation organizations, according to the White House press release. Many organizations have committed to involving youth in organized sports ranging from cycling to volleyball, in many cases by offering free lessons or trial memberships.

Obama, who shared her own workout playlist earlier in the day, called herself “a lifelong Olympic fan” in remarks announcing the commitments on Monday in Dallas.

According to Obama, 1.7 million young people will participate in sports activities through the program this year.

In her remarks, Obama thanked the Olympics and Paralympics competitors for being role models, whether or not they win the gold this summer.

“All of them will inspire a generation of young people to get active, to strive for excellence, and to pursue whatever dreams they may hold in their hearts,” she said.

The first lady’s anti-obesity platform, which focuses on childhood health, has also become a tool to promote her husband’s controversial healthcare reform bill.

She highlighted the importance of preventative check-ups in Women’s Health Magazine this month and charged insurance companies with routinely charging “women 50 percent more than men for the same coverage because they needed more frequent access to preventive services like mammograms and cervical screenings.”

She added, “Fortunately, the new health care bill makes that discrimination against women illegal starting in 2014.”

Obama recently celebrated the second anniversary of Let’s Move! by touring the country, leading school groups in jumping jacks, hula-hooping and a round of the dance known as the “Dougie,” as well as challenging talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres to beat her in a push-up contest — which Obama won — and ribbing late-night hosts Jay Leno and Jimmy Fallon over nutrition.

The summer Olympics take place in London starting in July. Obama will lead the presidential delegation to the Opening Ceremony of the Games.

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