By Patricia Carter
November 11, 2008

Mayors will convene December 3-4 in Tucson (AZ) to discuss local best practices for addressing obesity and creating healthy communities. The mayors’ meeting, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation as part of the Mayor’s Healthy City Initiative, will offer mayors a broad scope of initiatives and resources as they develop and fine-tune their healthy communities activities.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the total cost of obesity and physical inactivity in 2000 was estimated to be $117 billion. Obesity related annual costs for children more than tripled between 1979 and 1999. If our children are our future, then the obesity epidemic must be addressed to limit liability on our healthcare systems.

Mayors across the country understand this reality and are working in their respective communities to craft effective local interventions capable of reversing the tide of obesity facing our citizenry. Among the many trendsetters:

In 2004 Wynn established The Mayor’s Fitness Council to raise awareness of the cost of health care, to promote prevention of chronic diseases and better health in Austin, and to promote Austin as a healthy place to live and work with the primary goal of becoming “The Fittest City in the U.S.” Wynn’s fitness council has developed the Austin Fitness Index as a tool for local agencies to monitor their own progress in working to improve health. Created by Austinites for Austin, the index is based upon scientific research conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Wynn believes strongly that it is the community’s job to make fitness and wellness a priority. He believes that measuring and re-measuring the community against the Austin Fitness Index will show improvement. “At the end of the day, at the end of life, health is a paramount issue. As healthcare costs continue to increase, it becomes a not insignificant economic issue for families and employers. The math speaks for itself. As healthcare costs outpace inflation for employers heavily focused on the bottom line - they get it,” Wynn said.

Featured on the Ellen DeGeneres show and in print media across the country, Cornett has drawn attention to the plight of overweight Oklahomans by putting his city on a diet. At press time, through his leadership Cornett has helped Oklahoma City to lose 248,607 pounds by encouraging healthy eating and exercise. Cornett even partnered with Taco Bell President Greg Creed to develop an official menu to assist citizens interested in losing weight. The “Fresco menu” features nine items containing less than nine grams of fat and is the Official Menu of the Mayor’s weight lose challenge.

Tucson Mayor Bob Walkup

Walkup encourages mayors across the country and the world to focus on the health and wellness of their cities and citizens. His vision for Tucson includes a culture of wellness embraced by all citizens. With his leadership Tucson became one of the twelve founding members of Playful City USA. Thanks in part to Walkup; children in Tucson have a plethora of open spaces to play in. Children and adult enjoy a network of bike paths that have garnered national attention.

Mayors needing more information on the meeting, contact Patricia Carter at pcarter@usmayors.org or 202-861-6756. Mayors may also register for this meeting at: http://usmayors.org/healthycities08.