• by Erik Sass  @eriksass1, September 4, 2009

Counting on the interest of concerned parents to trump the bad economy, Rodale is poised to unveil Children's Health, a special, one-issue spinoff of the Men's Health and Women's Health brands.

Selling for $5.99 each, 750,000 issues of Children's Health will be exclusively distributed via newsstands on Sept. 15.

According to The New York Times, Rodale may produce subsequent issues of Children's Health, depending on the demand. 

The 112-page special issue features the ubiquitous Michelle Obama on the cover and an interview with her on children's issues and the First Family inside. She will also be interviewed in the October issue of Women's Health, while President Barack Obama will appear on the cover of the October issue of Men's Health.

An accompanying Web site is also being created for the Children's Health special issue. Advertisers appearing in the special issue include General Mills and Ralph Lauren.

The Rodale publications will also feature articles about Obama's proposals for health-care reform which endorse the president's plan. It appears the president gave the Rodale pubs access in return for their help reaching millions of readers on his health initiatives.

Obama's proposal for health-care reform has run into heavy opposition -- first from a conservative grassroots GOP movement and then from blue-dog Democrats in Congress.