Community partnerships seek to reduce obesity by promoting healthy eating and active lifestyles
January 15, 2013
(Huntsville, AL) – Mayor Tommy Battle announced the 2013 kick off for the city-wide Healthy Huntsville initiative designed to reduce obesity by promoting healthy eating and active lifestyles. Health and fitness related events and programs will be available throughout the year at no cost to participants.
To lead the initiative, the Mayor has assembled a team to shape the 2013 program including the City of Huntsville, HudsonAlpha, Huntsville City Schools, Huntsville Hospital, and the Madison County Health Department. The non-profits are working to create at least one activity per week for the year, and they are encouraging other organizations in the community to join the cause and take action to reduce the incidence of obesity and its health and economic impacts in Huntsville.
“Last year, we launched Healthy Huntsville with activities that included fitness and recreation opportunities and nutrition programs,” said Mayor Battle.” We will continue that push this year, but we will also be promoting programs, policies and actions designed to reduce food deserts, promote the availability of locally-grown foods, encourage restaurants to offer healthy menu items, and to increase the number of recreational opportunities available to our citizens.”
Obesity is a significant threat to every city in America, and experts say the epidemic is particularly alarming in children. This may be the first generation of Americans who may live sicker and die younger than their parents. The journal Health Affairs reports that “80 percent of children who were overweight at ages 10-15 were obese at age 25.” What children eat and drink at school and the amount of daily exercise they receive is critically important.
That is why the Healthy Huntsville leadership team is excited to add Huntsville City Schools to its partnership. “We have been proactive in facilitating healthier standards across the board for our students,” said Dr. Casey Wardynski, Superintendent for Huntsville City Schools. “This includes making certain our cafeteria menus meet or exceed all of the newest guidelines outlined under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Act. We also have a breakfast in the classroom program in over a dozen of our schools that is offered free of charge. Studies show that kids are less likely to be overweight if they start the day off with a healthy breakfast. The program has the added benefit of improving test scores and a decreasing absenteeism.”
“We want to tackle this issue head on with innovative ideas and group thinking to help Huntsville citizens make smart decisions to lead healthy lifestyles,” said Mayor Battle. “If we can work together to prevent problems before they occur, we can lower health care costs and improve our quality of life.”
The Healthy Huntsville leadership team has selected Our Valley Events, a community online events website, for the official Healthy Huntsville calendar. Point your browser to www.ourvalleyevents.com/healthy-huntsville for a complete listing of free Healthy Huntsville activities. The first opportunity comes this week with Scale Back Alabama (www.scalebackalabama.com), the state’s 10-week weight loss and activity program.
Community organizations wishing to sponsor a Healthy Huntsville event are encouraged to visit the Healthy Huntsville website at www.huntsvilleal.gov/healthyhuntsville and submit their ideas. A big salute to Adriane Scott Designs for creating a Healthy Huntsville logo to identify the city-wide program.
For more information, contact:
Kelly Cooper Schrimsher
Office of the Mayor
256-427-5006
kelly.schrimsher@huntsvilleal.gov
Rena Anderson
Director of Community Engagement
Huntsville City Schools
256-428-6943
Rena.anderson@hsv-k12.org
Dr. Lawrence Robey
Madison County Health Officer
Madison County Department of Health
lawrence.robey@adph.state.al.us
Holly Ralston
Director of Communications
HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology
256.327.0425
hralston@hudsonalpha.com
Cheryl Davis
Director, Marketing & Physician Relations
Huntsville Hospital
Phone 256.265.8317
cheryl.davis@hhsys.org
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