Sound Cities Association helps launch Let’s Move! initiative
Published 5:00 pm Thursday, August 7, 2014
For the Reporter
According to the King County Public Health Department, one in five youth in King County is overweight or obese.
To solve this epidemic, Sound Cities Association (SCA) has joined the National League of Cities (NLC) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to recruit the various SCA member cities to become nationally recognized in the Let’s Move! initiative.
SCA represents 36 cities, including Auburn, in King County and provides a voice for nearly one million people.
SCA envisions all 36 member cities to join Let’s Move! to provide the one million residents a healthy community.
“Obesity is one of the biggest public health threats facing our nation today, and tackling this epidemic is an all-hands-on-deck situation,” said Dr. Patrick O’Carroll, Regional Health administrator for HHS Region X and Assistant Surgeon General. “Cities, towns and counties play a critical role in shaping public policies that create environments where it’s easier to grow up healthy. We are calling upon local elected officials to join this effort.”
Let’s Move! is a comprehensive initiative, launched by the First Lady in 2010, dedicated to solving the problem of obesity within this county.
The campaign is aimed at fostering community environments that support healthy choices, providing healthier food options in schools, promoting access to healthy affordable food and encouraging children to become more physically active.
Benefits of becoming a Let’s Move! city are: recognition on a national level; networking opportunities with other cities; technical assistance in tools and resources provided by the NLC and HHS, and joining a national movement to enhance the future of community members.
For more information, visit www.healthycommunitieshealthyfuture.org.
