White House teams up with major American sports leagues to promote physical activity and proper nutrition

Washington CNN —

The White House announced Thursday it will work with all the major American sports leagues in unique new partnerships meant to underscore the importance of physical activity and proper nutrition.

The new partnerships are a part of the White House’s Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities, which was launched in March 2023. The goal of the challenge, according to the White House, is to “end hunger and increase healthy eating and physical activity by 2030.” The White House is also looking to reduce “diet-related diseases” by the same 2030 deadline.

Joining the White House are the NFL, NHL, MLB, NBA, WNBA, MLS, PGA Tour and NWSL, along with multiple players’ unions. Each league and union announced new commitments toward engaging the country’s children in league- and union-affiliated activities to promote exercise and better nutrition.

Second gentleman Douglas Emhoff, in a call with reporters, pointed toward the NFL as an example. The league will bolster its current PLAY 60 platform to emphasize the importance of kids getting 60 minutes of physical activity a day.

Play 60 launched in 2006, according to the NFL, and in the past several years has partnered with a number of different organizations including the American Heart Association, National Dairy Council, Special Olympics, Shriners Hospitals for Children, St. Jude and United Way.

The NBA holds their All-Star weekend from February 16to the 18 in Indianapolis and will plan on expanding programs already planned for the weekend. The NBA, alongside the WNBA, will also develop more robust programming and build on their efforts to combat hunger. In announcing this specific partnership, Emhoff added that he will be attending the All-Star