Michelle Obama: Mapping Obesity Strategy

First Lady Michelle Obama revealed the broad contours of the Obama administration's childhood obesity drive during a meeting at the White House Tuesday with three cabinet members and four members of Congress.

Next week, Mrs. Obama officially launches her signature initiative, taking on for the first time responsibility for a public policy project. She was joined by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in the Old Family Dining Room.

She described components of the anti-obesity drive in broad terms: Increasing physical education for kids; improving "the accessibility and affordability of foods because there are many food deserts in this nation, which makes it difficult for families trying to access good options," and doing more "to empower consumers to make better choices in their own lives."

While President Obama has renewed an effort at bipartisanship with Republicans, Mrs. Obama said she wanted to work with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

"Truly, this is an issue that's got to be ground up," the First Lady said. "It's something that requires bipartisan engagement."

Mrs. Obama has said she will forge partnerships with foundations, nonprofits and governmental units.

There were four senators and two House members in the meeting, leaders of the congressional committees handling most of the anticipated legislation: Senate Agriculture Chair Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) and ranking member Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.); Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Chair Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and ranking member Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.); House Education and Labor Chair George Miller (D-Calif.) and House Agriculture Chair Collin Peterson (D-Minn.)

Miller said in a statement, "As we work to rewrite our child nutrition laws this year, we must focus on eliminating any barriers to these programs, so that all eligible children have access to healthier foods and nutrition education whether in school, child care, or at home."

Harkin, who has been involved with obesity issues, said in a statement, "Together with the First Lady, the Secretaries of Education, Agriculture and Health and their congressional counterparts, we are starting a dialogue to combat childhood obesity, one that holds the promise of making real progress toward addressing this public health crisis.

"The First Lady is rightly addressing this issue on every front. We are examining ways to get parents the information they need to make their kids healthier, make communities more suited to play and exercise and increase access to healthier foods."