Let's Move Cities and Towns is designed to encourage mayors and elected officials to adopt a long-term, sustainable, and holistic approach to fight childhood obesity. This initiative recognizes that every city is different, and every town will require a distinct approach to the issue. Once an elected official signs up as a prospective Let's Move City or a Let's Move Town, he or she will choose at least one significant action to take over the following twelve months in each of the four pillar areas:

Help Parents Make Healthy Family Choices Create Healthy Schools Provide Access to Healthy and Affordable Food Promote Physical Activity

Requirements:

Let's Move Cities and Towns must submit a first quarter and end-of-year update, describing the city's or town's plan, timeline, and actions. These reports will be posted online. Then, a city or town may become a Let's Move City or Let's Move Town.

Let's Move Cities and Towns for a given year may be recognized in the following ways:

• Let's Move! Intergovernmental Affairs representatives will seek out cities and towns to highlight and celebrate initiative.
• Accomplishments and ideas for future action may be highlighted on the Let's Move! website.
• Mayors from Let's Move Cities and Towns will be invited to participate in conference calls with White House and federal agency staff to share ideas, discuss barriers, celebrate progress.
• Let's Move Cities and Towns will receive a certificate of acknowledgement confirming qualification as a Let's Move City or Let's Move Town.
• Mayors from Let's Move Cities and Towns may be invited to attend events to celebrate collective success in combating childhood obesity.


Sign up NOW to become a Let's Move City or Town

 A Call to Action

Over the past three decades, childhood obesity rates in America have tripled, and today, nearly one in three children in America are overweight or obese. One-third of all children born in 2000 or later will suffer from diabetes at some point in their lives; many others will face chronic obesity-related health problems like heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, and asthma. A recent study put the health care costs of obesity-related diseases at $147 billion per year. This epidemic also impacts the nation's security, as obesity is now one of the most common disqualifiers for military service.

In an address to mayors in January, 2010, First Lady Michelle Obama called them to take a leadership role in the Let's Move! campaign to solve the epidemic of childhood obesity within a generation. "The idea here is very simple: to put in place common sense, innovative solutions that empower families and communities to make healthy decisions for their kids," stated Mrs. Obama.

Steps for Mayors and Elected Officials

To become a prospective Let's Move City or Let's Move Town, mayors and elected officials can make an impact by:

1. Helping Parents Make Healthy Family Choices: Offer parents tools, support, and information to make healthier choices for their families.
2. Improving the Health of Schools: Promote healthier food in schools.
3. Increasing Physical Activity Opportunities: Promote physical activity in your schools, city, or town.
4. Making Healthy Food Affordable and Accessible: Eliminate food deserts in your community and improve the affordability of healthy food.

Mayors and elected officials are encouraged to take action in each of the four areas. The following sections outline ideas for strategies and programs to take a leadership role. These are some ideas to get started – this program should be tailored to the characteristics and needs of the particular city or town. Let's Move Cities and Towns welcomes your ideas, input, and feedback on efforts that are really working and those that aren't. Mayors and elected officials can be the leaders on this effort across the country and with all of us working together, this problem can be solved.