On August 31, 2012, the President signed a proclamation regarding National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, September 2012. In the proclamation, he urges Americans to promote healthy living for our children: 

"Each of us can play a role in ensuring our children have the opportunity to live long, healthy lives, and by joining together in pursuit of that mission, I am confident we can build a brighter future for America's youth."

Join the movement to raise a healthier generation of kids! There are opportunities for all of us -- parents and caregivers, elected officials from all levels of government, schools, health care professionals, faith-based and community-based organizations, and private sector companies -- to play a role in ensuring a healthy future for our children.

Check out the list below for more ways to get involved with Let's Move!. You can also follow Let’s Move! on Facebook and Twitter, where you can get immediate updates about related activities and the latest news.

For Parents

Parents and caregivers can set a great example for the whole family by creating a healthy environment at home. Join the Nutrition Communicators Network for free information on how to incorporate MyPlate into family meals. Earn Presidential Active Lifestyle Awards with your kids to encourage active lifestyles at home. Get updates from Let’s Move Outside! on new ideas on what and where  to play outdoors with your kids. Sign up to hear from the President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition for updates on fitness, health and outdoor fun. 

For Schools

School administrators, teachers, parents, students, and student services providers can work together to create a healthy school environment, where children have healthy meals at lunch and breakfast and opportunities to be physically active during the day.

• Take the Healthier US School Challenge
• Apply for a salad bar for your school
• Partner with a local chef

For Community and Faith Leaders

First Lady Michelle Obama has challenged faith-based and community organizations to get involved in Let's Move Faith and Communities. We encourage you to take action to make your congregation or community a place of wellness.

For Local Elected Officials

No city, town or county is the same, and each one needs its own approach for solving childhood obesity. Let’s Move! Cities, Towns and Counties engages local elected officials by focusing on their unique ability to promote improved nutrition and increase physical activity at the local level.

For Chefs

Chefs have a unique ability to make good nutrition fun and appealing. Through the Chefs Move to Schools initiative, you can adopt a school and work closely with teachers, parents, school nutritionists and administrators in your community to introduce students to healthy food choices that are also delicious.

For Museums, Zoos, and Public Gardens

Join Let's Move! Museums & Gardens, a national initiative to provide opportunities for millions of museum and garden visitors to learn about healthy food choices and physical activity through interactive exhibits, children's afterschool and summer programs, and healthy food service.

For Tribal Leaders and Communities

The Let's Move! in Indian Country initiative seeks to support and advance the work that Tribal leaders and community members are already doing to improve the health of American Indian and Alaskan Native children.

Child Care Providers and Early Education Programs

Helping children learn healthy habits early, through child care and early education programs, is critical to solving the problem of childhood obesity within a generation. Let's Move! Child Care is a voluntary initiative to empower child care and early education providers to meet 5 goals: increasing physical activity, reducing screen time, improving food choices, providing healthy beverages, and supporting breast feeding.

For Health Care Providers

Health care professionals directly impact children’s health. Let’s Move! in the Clinic is a voluntary effort by health care providers address childhood obesity. Working together with children and their families in clinics, practices, homes, schools and neighborhoods, health care professionals can make a real difference in solving the problem of childhood obesity.

 Marissa Duswalt, RD, is the Let's Move! Associate Director of Policy & Events