BOSTON -- The first lady unveiled a national program to fight childhood obesity Tuesday.

As NewsCenter 5's Heather Unruh reported, it comes at a time when one in three American children is overweight.

Changing the diet and exercise habits of American children and families: It's an ambitious goal first lady Michelle Obama has set for our nation.

"I just want to say how proud I am of you," President Barack Obama told his wife at a press conference Tuesday.

With her husband's support and signature, Mrs. Obama kicked off her national campaign to combat childhood obesity.

"We think that this has an enormous promise in improving the health of our children, in giving support to parents," the president said.

The Let's Move campaign will spend $10 billion over the next 10 years. Currently, the country spends $150 billion every year treating illnesses related to obesity.

"Rarely in the history of this country have we encountered a problem of such magnitude and consequence that is so solvable," Mrs. Obama said.

The plan includes improving nutrition and physical education in schools; promoting physical activity in community planning; and making healthy foods more available in low-income communities.

The plan mirrors a nationally recognized campaign that started in Massachusetts. Shape Up Somerville began seven years ago after some eye-opening statistics.

"More than 40 percent of our first and third-graders were obese, or at risk of being obese," Mayor Joe Curtatone told NewsCenter 5 last fall.

The city has made great strides. Curtatone was in Washington, D.C., Tuesday as the first lady recognized Somerville for its efforts.

"To have the first lady take this as cause top initiative is really going to do so much to raise the social consciousness of an entire country," he said.