The
causes for this trend are many, and they are often rooted in daily
life. Studies show that people are more sedentary, spending more time
in front of TV and computer screens, and less time being active. People
are also eating less healthy foods like fruits and vegetables, and more
fast food. And while the trend towards obesity and weight related
health problems is happening across the country, there is a significant
increase in these problems in low-income communities. In these
communities, the problems are exacerbated. Single-parent families with
no time to cook, limited access to fresh ingredients and neighborhoods
that do not invite outdoor activities are all part of the equation.

In
response to this troubling pattern, Governor Patrick has created a new
campaign, led by the Department of Public Health, called Mass In
Motion. On January 26th, Health Commissioner John Auerbach unrolled the
plan, citing the focus on low-income communities and working with
schools. A recent press release for Mass In Motion states the
activities include:

• A statewide wellness public information campaign involving Governor Deval Patrick and other "champions";

•
An interactive website directed to parents and caregivers, worksites,
and communities (including schools) that complements the information
campaign (see www.mass.gov/massinmotion );

• Proposed
regulations that require Body Mass Index (BMI) screening in schools and
reporting to parents to identify the weight status of children;

•
Proposed menu labeling regulations that require fast food restaurants
to post information on the nutritional content of the foods they offer;

•
An executive order that will require state agencies purchasing large
quantities of food to follow specific nutritional standards;

• The expansion of a successful DPH worksite wellness program to new worksites;

• The release of a RFR for municipalities that will support active living and healthy eating.

Many
of these initiatives will still require legislation to be put into
action, and with the budget crisis it can be difficult to see the value
in such initiatives. However, as Commissioner Auerbach stated on the
Mass in Motion website, "this is the exact time we need this kind of
endeavor. The lower your income the more likely that you will be both
overweight and undernourished [as] the cheapest and most accessible
foods are the ones with the highest amount of calories and saturated
fat. At a time of recession, more people are likely to be eating
poorly, not exercising, and gaining weight. This effort is also timely
because our state is in the midst of implementing invaluable but costly
health care reform…The very best and most cost-effective way to do
that is to promote good health rather than treat diseases like diabetes
and heart disease that our new program can stop in their tracks."

The
goals of Mass In Motion already have a foundation in Shape Up
Somerville, the citywide program that began in 2002 and is still going
strong. Nicole Rioles, the program's coordinator states, "I am happily
surprised that the state is moving in a healthier direction. I look at
New York, where they have required calorie counts in restaurants and
are banning trans fats, and am really excited to see changes like that
happen here."

Shape Up Somerville has long been addressing many
of the challenges that Mass In Motion is tackling and has become a
model for communities around the country. Rioles said, "Somerville,
like other parts of the country, has more unhealthy and overweight
people in poorer communities, and we have worked to address that. We
have created a new CSA, [community-supported-agriculture program] to
get affordable and local fresh produce to a convenient pickup spot, and
are renovating East Broadway with wider sidewalks so people can walk
safely and easily."

Because of the success of the original
Tufts-funded program that created Shape Up Somerville, the city has
received significant media attention and often fields calls from other
communities around the country requesting advice on how to launch a
similar program. Rioles states that success requires public awareness
and education, and talks about the city's Green Streets initiative,
where residents are encouraged to wear green and walk or bike, and the
5K road race held every spring. But she also says that lasting
improvements occur when you change the built environment. She states,
"programs are great, and important for getting people excited and
aware, but the real change happens when there are well-lit sidewalks,
good crosswalks, and attractive parks. Small things like lighting and
snow removal can really make a difference."

When asked what is
new for 2009, Rioles says that there is a new map of Somerville's parks
and walking routes that will be distributed in schools and available at
City Hall and elsewhere. In addition, residents should look for the
Shape Up Somerville decal in local restaurants with healthy choices on
the menu. There is a physical activity guide on the city website, with
everything from summer programs for kids to dance classes for adults.
It is also time to sign up for a share in one of the city's two CSAs,
which allows for a whole season's worth of fresh local produce, and
urges interested residents to call her at City Hall for more
information. She also states, "the Mayor is committed to keeping
healthy food in all parts of the city, and since the close of Star
Market we are working to ensure that another supermarket or food source
comes into that space." For more information contact Nicole Rioles at
nrioles@somervillema.gov or 617-625-6600 ext. 2414.