It's recommended that children get 150 minutes of exercise a week at elementary school and 225 minutes in secondary schools and yet they are not. For many schools PE (physical education) is an afterthought," Benjamin said.
The Centers for Disease Control is calling for taxes on sugary drinks and junk food, zoning restrictions on fast-food restaurants around schools and a ban on advertisements for junk food aimed at children
The president's task force on childhood obesity plans to meet with Mr. Obama to deliver its recommendations on the issue.