City of Davis

September 15, 2009 – Davis Takes Innovative Step to Improve City’s Health, Reduce Obesity

The city of Davis moved to tackle the obesity crisis head on September 8th by signing on as a charter member of the Healthy Eating Active Living Cities Campaign (HEAL), a statewide campaign aimed at introducing changes in city policies and environments to reduce local obesity and physical inactivity rates and related costs.

“The City of Davis is excited to take part and support the statewide HEAL Cities Campaign.” Said Don Saylor, Mayor Pro Tempore. “Childhood obesity and many other health conditions plaguing Californians are of great concern. Investing in parks, trails, bike-paths, farmers markets, complete streets, sidewalks and adapting our land use policies will ultimately contribute to creating a Healthy Eating and Active Living community.”

In California, where more than half the adult population is obese or overweight, a recent study showed that the epidemic is costing the state more than $41 billion a year in health care costs and lost productivity. Davis hopes to control those costs by drawing on the HEAL campaign’s free training and assistance in the adoption of policies to improve the community’s physical activity and retail food environments.

While citizens play a pivotal role in the diet and exercise choices they make, Davis policymakers recognize that local government plays a part in making it easier for their citizens to move to healthier behaviors. The city already has extensive bicycle trails, a network of parks, community gardens and a popular farmers’ market. Now the city is exploring the formation of a task force to examine additional strategies to promote resident health.

“Davis is a real pioneer in providing residents healthy lifestyle choices” said Francesca Wright of the HEAL campaign. “It takes an innovative city government to explore new policy approaches that answer both the challenges associated with reduced funding and skyrocketing obesity-related costs. Davis residents can be rightfully proud that their local government is on the cutting edge of this issue.”

For more information about the HEAL Cities Campaign call (510) 302-3387 or visit www.healcitiescampaign.org.