U.S. first lady Michelle Obama has announced a plan for retailers to bring fresh fruit and vegetables to poor and underserved communities, as part of her effort to increase access to healthy foods and combat childhood obesity.

At the White House Wednesday, Mrs. Obama said studies show that people who have greater access to supermarkets and fresh fruits have lower instances of obesity.

The plan will see Walmart, the nation's largest retailer, and drugstore giant Walgreens, opening 1,500 stores, along with other regional retailers, in areas across the country where people have little or no access to fresh produce.

The White House says 24 million Americans live in these areas, which are often referred to as “food deserts.”

Mrs. Obama said no child should be consigned to a life of poor health because of the neighborhood they live in.

The Obama administration has committed $35 million this year and has proposed another $330 million in the 2012 budget to fund an initiative to encourage businesses, non-profits and public agencies to develop strategies to address the problem.