First Lady Michelle Obama’s anti-obesity “Let’s Move” campaign came to Santa Monica Saturday in conjunction with the beginning of the 2012 London Olympics. Ted Chen reports from Santa Monica for the NBC4 News at 6:30 p.m. on July 28, 2012.
Even on a beautiful day, it isn’t easy to get some people to exercise just for fun, but then there are kids like 10- year-old Jocelyn Herrera.
She eagerly joined an impromptu workout on the Santa Monica Promenade.
"I really like exercising," Jocelyn said.
Getting more people to have her attitude is the goal of "Let's Move," First Lady Michelle Obama's campaign to fight childhood obesity.
To coincide with the beginning of the 2012 London Olympics, Saturday was declared "Let’s Move Olympic Fun Day," and exercise meetups took place across the country.
And it's got some big motivators in people such as Hollywood trainer Dion Jackson.
He’s trained celebrities, including Jennifer Lopez, and says the Olympics are the perfect time to get Southern Californians inspired.
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"It’s kind of hard to look at Michael Phelps on that platform and not get motivated to eat better and start exercising. Those guys are in shape," Jackson said.
But even with Olympic inspiration it's a daunting task to reduce the number of Americans considered obeste: 78 million adults and nearly 13 million children.
"Let's Move" is using social media and technology to try to change the way young people think about fitness.
First Lady Obama and the U.S. Olympic Committee have set a goal this year to get 1.7 million children to get involved in sports for the first time.
