3. WHEN A HEALTHIER CITIZENRY IS A PRIORITY FOR GOVERNMENT, POSITIVE CHANGE ENSUES.

ACFN found that when local or state government makes health and fitness a priority, the people of the community follow.


Mayor Street emphasizes the importance of living a balanced and healthy lifestyle.

Mayor John F. Street of Philadelphia, PA, sees himself as a role model for his community. He has struggled with his weight and health across the course of his life, but talks freely and enthusiastically today to the people of his city about the importance of healthy living. He explained how the city government’s commitment to health and wellness is creating change. During his administration, Philadelphia has increased walking and bicycle routes, added bicycle racks, increased park space, closed down two river drives to increase their accessibility for physical activity and encouraged local restaurants to adopt healthier menus. Even city employees are using their health care benefits less, according to the mayor’s office, suggesting that the investment in prevention is reaping benefits.

“We are committed to health and fitness, and we’re committed to the people of this city,” said Mayor Street during his keynote address at the Philadelphia TRIUMPH event. “When it comes to health, we as leaders have an obligation to point people in the right direction.”

Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee is also leading by example through his well-publicized success in losing more than 120 pounds and completing the Little Rock Marathon. Joe Quinn, director of policy to Gov. Huckabee, told participants at the Little Rock TRIUMPH event stories of individuals around the country who have contacted the governor’s office wanting to follow his lead. Quinn also spoke about initiatives in Arkansas to make it easier for citizens of the state to adopt healthier lifestyles, such as progress on a major walking trail through Little Rock and North Little Rock, which is expected to be one of the pre-eminent of its kind in the country.

And the impact of the Arkansas government’s commitment extends beyond its borders. Gov. Huckabee occupies the high-profile chairmanship of the National Governors Association, where he has made increasing health and wellness for all Americans his priority and launched a national initiative on the subject.


	Oklahoma Secretary of Health Terry Cline urged people in the state to take charge of their own wellness.

In Oklahoma City, Secretary of Health Terry Cline enthusiastically accepted an invitation to welcome participants to the local TRIUMPH event on behalf of Gov. Brad Henry, who wanted to indicate his desire to celebrate local programs that are making a difference. He noted the governor’s Strong and Healthy Oklahoma initiative, which promotes healthy lifestyle change to state government employees and provides support for educational outreach through nongovernmental community groups. “Programs like the ones represented here today, throughout our city and state, will help you take the first step in your journey to a healthier lifestyle,” said Secretary Cline.

In Austin, TX, Mayor Will Wynn explained how his city has won the Governor’s Cup for being the fittest city in the state two years in a row. And while he questions the methodology used by Men’s Fitness magazine in their well-known annual rankings of “fittest cities,” he noted that Austin is a perennial top 20. He attributes the success in part to the Steps to Healthier Austin program. “It’s a five-year intervention in which we’re tracking obesity, diabetes and asthma. It earned a significant grant for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” he said. “This government is committed to improving nutrition, increasing physical activity and reducing risky behaviors, because we want Austin to be the fittest city in the country.”

“It’s a five-year intervention in which we’re tacking obesity, diabetes and asthma. It earned a significant grant for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”

Mayor Will Wynn, Austin, TX

He also noted local voter commitment to prevention as evidenced by the recent formation of the Travis County Hospital District even though it created a new tax. The goal was to raise awareness of the true cost of health care in the community, and to reduce those costs by reducing the need for health care. “Nutrition and fitness are the keys,” he said. “And I believe the people of Austin increasingly recognize that.”


	Kate Coler, deputy undersecretary at the USDA, highlights the importance of the 2005 dietary guidelines and MyPyramid.

Kate Coler, deputy undersecretary for food, nutrition and consumer services at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), in her keynote address at the Baltimore TRIUMPH event, discussed the impact of the 2005 food guidelines and pyramid. “We touch the lives of one in five Americans, so we see our programs as a great tool to try to motivate people to move to a healthier lifestyle,” she said. She discussed the importance of this year’s change from the well-known government food pyramid to “MyPyramid,” which for the first time incorporates messages about physical activity. MyPryamid.gov has received over 1 billion hits to the Web site since it was released in April 2005, and has over 480,000 registered users of MyPryamid Tracker.

USDA released MyPyramid for Kids in September and has since distributed print materials to schools and created an interactive game on the Web site for elementary school children to encourage healthy food choices and physical activity every day. USDA also released Spanish translations of several print materials and the main Web site, “MiPiramide.”