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Urbana Kicks Off First Lady’s Initiative to Combat Child Obesity
Story date: Tuesday, February 07, 2012 from Illinois Public Media News
Urbana will use some tips from First Lady Michelle Obama in shaping healthier lifestyles among young people.
In a few weeks, the city will submit its action plan to the authors of ‘Let’s Move.’ It shows childhood obesity has tripled among children ages 6 to 11 since 1980. There’s no funding attached to it, but the initiative started by Obama two years ago does offer information on how to promote healthier foods in schools, and physical activity in the community.
The Urbana City Council heard a presentation on the initiative Monday night, one that Alderman Dennis Roberts says is quite an undertaking, given what kids see growing up.
“We’ve been raised through the media and the TV and all the advertising to think that the best kind of breakfast cereal that a child can have is multi-colored and crunchy, and really covered with sugar,” Roberts said. “And as adults traveling on the highways, we’re looking for the place that has the highest caffeine ratio, the sweet treat, or the potato chip rack that we’re all aiming for.”
Through the initiative and its private-public partnerships, Alderwoman Diane Marlin says seven basic health messages will be spread throughout the city. They include no sugar-sweetened beverages, aiming for an hour of physical activity per day, and providing drinking water for all meals and snacks.
Marlin says the initiative’s pillar areas are consistent with Mayor Laurel Prussing’s goals, including improved access to healthy foods, and making Urbana a bike and pedestrian-friendly community. “Let’s Move” also strives to promote more physical activity in the community. Marlin says the initiative has been adopted by more than 3-thousand communities nationwide, in a way that suits them.
“Basically, you identify what you can do, and figure out a way to do it, and make it fit into your own budgets,” Marlin said. “Obviously, budgets are strained, staff time is very limited, so that’s why we’re building on existing programs and enhancing what we’re already doing.”
Nikki Hillier with the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District says one way ‘Let’s Move’ strives to change diets is through private-public partnerships involving schools, child care providers, and the local park district.
“We really haven’t had the chance to explore those relationships and partnerships, but I think once we get there, that can really change the foods that are available, even when families go out to eat.”
Marlin says about 3-thousand other US communities taking part in the initiative have built programs with local restaurants and grocery stores. She says each city finds a way to suit ‘Let’s Move’ to their budgets, and create an expectation for wellness that hasn’t been brought out before. Danville is also enrolled in the initiative, and Marlin hopes to see Champaign County become part of it as well.
One of the first cities to become part of ‘Let’s Move’ was Des Moines, Iowa. First Lady Michelle Obama returns there this week to celebrate the program’s 2-year anniversary.
