WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥 More than a dozen sports leagues and players associations, from the NFL to the PGA Tour, have promised the White House that they will provide more opportunities for people to be physically active and learn about nutrition and adopting healthy lifestyles.
The White House announced Thursday that the leagues and associations are participating in the White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities. The challenge was launched last year as a follow-up to the .
At the conference, President announced a national strategy to meet an ambitious goal to end hunger and reduce diseases related to diet by 2030. The challenge calls on parties with a stake in the outcome to make 鈥渂old commitments鈥 toward meeting the goal, according to the White House.
Doug Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, said it is 鈥渟imply unacceptable鈥 that obesity and Type 2 diabetes are among the leading causes of death in the United States.
He said the leagues have 鈥渟tepped up鈥 to help Biden meet his goal by signing agreements with the , an advisory body that exists to promote healthy eating and physical activity. The council is co-chaired by chef and of the WNBA's Washington Mystics.
Among commitments being announced by the sports leagues:
The NFL will expand PLAY60, its national health and wellness program to encourage young people to devote at least 60 minutes a day to physical activity. The NFL will also integrate the importance of nutrition into its messaging for the program.
The NBA and the WNBA will continue to develop programs and events that promote a healthy diet and physical activity to young people, including at the All-Star Game in Indianapolis later this month. Emhoff said he'll be attending the game.
The NHL, MLB, MLS, NWSL and other sports leagues have made similar commitments, he said.
