Department of Health

St. Louis Recognized for Achievements in Addressing Childhood Obesity

Five medals were awarded by the National League of Cities

December 4, 2012 | 2 min reading time

This article is 12 years old. It was published on December 4, 2012.

 The National League of Cities (NLC) has recognized Mayor Francis G. Slay and the City of St. Louis for the recent completion of key health and wellness goals for Let's Move! Cities, Towns and Counties (LMCTC).  LMCTC is a major component of First Lady Michelle Obama's comprehensive Let's Move! initiative, which is dedicated to solving the childhood obesity epidemic within a generation.

"We applaud local elected officials in St. Louis for stepping up to the challenge of Let's Move! Cities, Towns and Counties and making measurable progress in their efforts to improve children's health," said NLC President Ted Ellis, mayor of Bluffton, IN.

Five medals were awarded to St. Louis for action taken to improve access to healthy affordable food and increase opportunities for physical activity.  These medals were awarded because:

  • St. Louis continues to hold an active interagency early childhood care and education collaboration
  • 60% of St. Louis public schools participate in the School Breakfast Program
  • All food vendors/contractors were identified
  • A policy on health and sustainable food for all vendors/contractors was adopted
  • 30% of food vendors/contractors already have an established health and sustainable food policy in line with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans
"The Let's Move! Initiative has been a great tool to help empower individuals to take charge in adopting healthier lifestyle choices," said Pamela Walker, health director for the City of St. Louis.

The National League of Cities (NLC) is the lead collaborating partner on this initiative.  NCL works with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Association of Counties, and other nonprofit organizations, in assisting local elected officials to implement policy and environmental changes to prevent childhood obesity.  The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has awarded NLC a grant to provide technical assistance to local elected officials working to create healthier communities and prevent  childhood obesity, including sites participating in LMCTC.

More than 160 cities, towns and counties are participating in LMCTC.  NLC awarded 541 medals to local elected officials across the country, recognizing these leaders for their progress in adopting long-term, sustainable, and holistic policies that improve communities' access to healthy affordable food and opportunities for physical activity.

For more information about LMCTC and St. Louis' accomplishments, visit http://www.healthycommunitieshealthyfuture.org/

The National League of Cities is dedicated to helping city leaders build better communities.  Working in partnership with the 49 state municipal leagues, NLC serves as a resource to and an advocate for the more than 19,000 cities, villages and towns it represents.

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  • Department:
    Department of Health
  • Topic:
    Health