NEW YORK - Former US president Bill Clinton, a chubby child who grew up to face heart trouble, on Tuesday unveiled a campaign against juvenile obesity in the United States.
"After my personal exposure to heart disease and surgery, I wanted to find some way to use that experience to help others. With this initiative, we can help turn young people`s lives around and give them hope for a healthier future," Clinton said at a Harlem primary school.
The campaign by the Clinton Foundation in cooperation with the American Heart Association will try to encourage key food producers and restaurant chains to help encourage healthier eating habits.
It also will try to boost physical education and improve nutrition in US schools, setting standards for cafeterias. There will be an educational effort to get the word out with a campaign "for kids, by kids."
Details on the program will follow in coming months.
Clinton, known for hearty appetites and a passion for hamburgers, in September underwent quadruple bypass surgery. Asked about his favorite sport, Clinton told the students golf was his choice.
The American Heart Association says 16 percent of children and adolescents are overweight -- four times more than two decades ago.
05/03/2005 18:09 GMT