Michelle Obama announces new effort to help cities fight obesity

First Lady Michelle Obama says cities like Philadelphia can't afford not to fight childhood obesity.

"Local leaders know the critical impact these issues have on their communities," said Obama, who appeared in Hunting Park today with Mayor Nutter, Newark Mayor Cory Booker and other mayors from around the country. "You all see it in your budgets in the tens if millions of dollars in healthcare costs. You see it in your workforce because when kids aren't healthy they miss more days at school and that can mean higher absenteeism as parents have to stay at home and care for these kids."

Obama's Let's Move campaign geared at fighting childhood obesity kicked off in 2010. Today she unveiled a new effort in collaboration with the National League of Cities to help local officials improve child health. Funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and NLC's Institute for Health, Education and Families will provide local mayors with tools and technical assistance to improve nutrition and physical activity among youth.

Local officials can sign up and learn more at www.healthycommunitieshealthyfuture.org and participate in a program to improve the health of residents which includes five goals including healthy food at local schools, assuring early care providers and improving food guidelines. Those who sign up will have access to experts, resources, tracking tools and maps provided by NLC to help them make healthy changes and track progress.

Nutter said he was committed to fighting this battle in Philadelphia, which has high levels of childhood obesity.

"We can do more to help our children live healthier lives," Nutter said. "It's not a Democrat or Republican issue. Its an American issue."