Former Clinton, Bush officials to tackle obesity problem

“Michelle Obama’s not trying to tell people what to eat or trying to force the government’s desires on people, but she’s stating the obvious: that we do have an obesity crisis in this country,” said Huckabee said in a December radio interview.

Other former Cabinet leaders joining in the BPC effort include Clinton’s Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Donna Shalala; Mike Leavitt, HHS secretary under former President George W. Bush; and Ann Veneman, who headed the Agriculture Department under Bush.

The initiative will focus on improving nutrition education, ways to promote healthy food choices, the role of institutional players, opportunities for public-private partnerships and increasing physical activity.