http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20110501/us-obesity-backlash/

Remember the Dear Michele letters we were sending re: the negative backlash from the Let’s Move Campaign resulting in shaming kids for being fat?  Maybe someone heard us!!  Here is the comment we posted on the ABC News site where the article was also published:

It has been a month of turmoil in the world; Libya, tornadoes, and floods, just a few of the real life atrocities affecting real life people.  It makes the battle of size discrimination and eating disorders seem pale in comparison.  However as a person living in a tumultuous and diverse society I must be able to “multi-cause-task.”

David Crary’s article does a brilliant job of explaining why the Let’s Move campaign has an Achilles’ heel that’s impossible to ignore.

Crary deftly presents the rarely publicized opposing viewpoints in an accessible and logical framework. I am hoping this raises the awareness of the campaign’s unintentional but negative side effects.  Unfortunately, because of the way Let’s Move is being promoted, bullying is a tangible outcome. Rather than helping fat kids “FIT in” the campaign is creating an environment where bullies are reinforced for their disdainful and superior attitudes and actions towards fat children. Meanwhile the fat kids are left fighting for their lives physically and emotionally; unwillingly joining a real life cast of a real life reality show that could be called, “America’s Educational System’s Biggest Losers.” It is imperative that if we are serious about children’s health, we shift the focus away from weight and adopt a systemic/holistic approach that takes a person’s individual make-up into consideration. One size does NOT fit all definitions of health; whereas shaming and finger pointing frequently result in poor mental health. I am certain Mrs. Obama does not believe in a lack of parity between physical and mental health issues and can continue to promote health in a kinder way.