Over the past three decades, childhood obesity rates in America have tripled. Today, nearly one in three children in our nation is obese or overweight. 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 affects the nation’s security, as obesity is now one of the most common disqualifiers for military service.

In a January 2010 address, First Lady Michelle Obama called mayors to take a leadership role in the Let’s Move! initiative to solve the epidemic of childhood obesity within a generation. Here’s a list of the cities, towns and counties who have stepped up to the challenge to date.

Become a Let’s Move City, Town or County

Let’s Move Cities, Towns and Counties is designed to encourage mayors and elected officials to adopt a long-term, sustainable and holistic approach to fighting childhood obesity. 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. This initiative recognizes that every city is different, and every town will require a distinct approach to the issue.

Steps for Signing Up

An elected official can sign his or her location up as a prospective Let’s Move City, Let’s Move Town or Let's Move County. During this process, he or she will choose at least one significant action to take during a 12-month period in each of the four pillar areas:

1. Reducing the risk of obesity in early childhood
2. Making healthy food affordable and accessible
3. Providing healthy food in schools
4. Increasing physical activity

Requirements

To join, begin to envision how to address this issue in your community.  The next step is to publicly commit to making at least one change in each of the four pillars listed above of the Let’s Move Initiative. You can make this commitment on your city’s website, in a speech, in an interview, or in a press release.  We are asking you to let us know what commitments you make here. Once you have made this commitment, the federal government will work with you to support your efforts.

Recognition

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

• Let’s Move! representatives will seek out cities and towns with successful initiatives to highlight and celebrate.
• Accomplishments and ideas for future action may be highlighted on the Let’s Move! website.
• Mayors from Let’s Move Cities, Towns, and Counties will be invited to participate in conference calls with White House and federal agency staff to share ideas, discuss barriers and celebrate progress.
• Mayors from Let’s Move Cities, Towns, and Counties may be invited to attend events to celebrate collective success in combating childhood obesity.

Let’s Move Cities, Towns and Counties welcomes your ideas, input, and feedback on efforts that are really working and those that are not.

Resources

• Download the Let's Move Cities, Towns and Counties toolkit.

• PreventObesity.net is a social networking website launched by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. On this site, individuals can create profiles and connect with others in a community who are interested in getting involved in projects targeting childhood obesity.  Consider encouraging community members to log on and connect with each other to join with you, or create new projects that reinforce the goals of your local Let’s Move! initiative.
   
• Also be sure to check out our main Resources section for Mayors and Local Officials that includes strategies and various action plans.