by Garrett Karrberg

Cities across the country are showing a greater interest in developing fitness programs to combat the growing problem of obesity in America.

Studies show that in recent years, obesity has moved to the top of the list of health problems in the U.S. Though the problem is not new, obesity is now a widespread epidemic, resulting in increased health and economic costs.

The number of overweight people in the world is now greater than the number of undernourished people, according to Barry Popkin, professor of nutrition at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

In turn, all levels of government are taking steps to promote exercise, nutrition and healthier living.

For example, with more restaurants per capita than any other city in the country, Dallas frequently tops the list of America?s fattest cities. One method Dallas used to try to lower that ranking is the ?Lighten-Up Big D? campaign, where the city asked residents to exercise 30 minutes a day and practice healthy living.

Individuals were rewarded points for each fitness-related activity they participated in, and companies that had employees with the most points were deemed by the city as the ?Most Fit Companies in Dallas.?

Chicago has developed a number of programs within the last few years as part of a comprehensive plan to inspire residents to make a commitment to a healthier lifestyle.

The Mayor?s Fitness Council was created in 2002 to promote healthier living for all Chicagoans. In addition to providing useful health information on www.chicagoworksout.com, the council sponsors special events such as the ?Fitness Challenge,? where residents are encouraged to exercise 30 minutes a day, five days a week for six weeks.

Participants sign up for the challenge during the annual ?Chicago Moves Day,? which offers health screenings, fitness classes and activities, and appearances by members of the Chicago Bears and Chicago White Sox.

Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley has also put forth a strong effort to make the city one of the most bicycle-friendly cities in the United States. Since Daley took office, the city has constructed 100 miles of on-street bike lanes and 50 miles of off-street trails.

In Athens, Tenn., the ?Park Exercise Really Keeps You In Shape? program is typical of the increasing number of incentive-based fitness programs that reward residents for exercising. Participants earn a certain number of points for walking, running, swimming or even fishing that can go toward prizes ranging from a set of weights to an MP3 player.

Cities are also promoting fitness and healthy living as a way to decrease health care costs. Some local governments are developing nutrition and wellness programs for city employees, with the hope that the investment in employees? health will result in lower health care costs.

In Roanoke, Va., the Employee Occupational Health Clinic offers a smoking cessation program for city employees and requires firefighters and police officers to be smoke-free. The clinic also requires regular physicals for public safety officers, provides free physicals for city employees and their families, holds an annual health fair and offers other services such as free flu shots, rebates on prescription drugs and drug testing.

Even small communities are finding innovative ways to make fitness and wellness programs a high priority. Bolivar, Mo., a city of just more than 9,000 people, started the ?Walk and Talk with the Mayor? program in 2004. The program encourages residents and city employees to walk with the mayor three times a week through local trails, parks and cemeteries.

Bolivar Mayor Charles Ealy started the program after his doctor informed him he needed to exercise more. The walking program enables him to exercise while maintaining communication with his constituents.

The success of the program has spawned other healthy-living initiatives throughout the community, including a community health calendar, free use of university fitness facilities and free health screenings at the hospital.

Many city leaders are showing a genuine commitment to fitness programs. They not only elevate the well-being of their constituents, but also contribute to lower health care costs and create a positive image of their cities

Details: To learn more about the fitness programs in Dallas, contact Crayton Webb, former mayor?s office chief of staff, at (972) 687-5733 or crayton.webb@mkcorp.com. For more on the Chicago programs, contact Colleen Lammel-Harmon, fitness program senior specialist at, (312) 742-4998 or colleen.lammel@chicagoparkdistrict.com. For more on the Athens programs, contact Austin Fesmire, parks and recreation director, at (423) 744-2706, recreation@cityofathenstn.com. For more on the Roanoke programs, contact Keli Greer, director of Human Resources, at (540) 853-2231 or keli.greer@roanokeva.gov. For more on the Bolivar programs, contact Charles L. Ealy, mayor, at (417) 326-2489 or mayor@microcore.net.

To view more examples of municipal involvement with fitness programs, visit www.nlc.org, click on ?City Knowledge Network? under the ?About Cities? tab, then click on ?Examples of Programs for Cities.? For further information, contact NLC?s municipal reference service at mrs@nlc.org or (202) 626-3130.