Michelle Obama to lead Obama administration battle against childhood obesity

WASHINGTON–First Lady Michelle Obama in 2010 will become the lead Obama White House spokesman in an administration-wide battle against childhood obesity, taking on her first substantial role in advancing an Obama initiative.

In a Wednesday session with reporters at the White House, Mrs. Obama said dealing with childhood obesity will be a “major” project for her this year, and did not rule out testifying before Congress, if need be.

Mrs. Obama will discuss childhood obesity next Wednesday in a speech before the U.S. Conference of Mayors. More details will be unveiled in the coming weeks; she said she was looking to forge public, private and non-profit partnerships as the epidemic of childhood obesity increases and as legislation overseeing federal-funded school lunch programs is up for renewal this year.