Release Date: October 11, 2010
Office of Mayor Julián Castro: 207-7083
Mayor Julián Castro kicks off comprehensive effort to transform health and fitness in San Antonio
-New initiatives to unite community, health and government leaders for San Antonio’s future-
Bringing together partners and resources from across the community, Mayor Julián Castro and the Mayor's Fitness Council will kick off a series of health and fitness initiatives on Saturday, October 16, at Woodlawn Lake Park from 9:00 a.m. to noon.
The stakes are high--the CDC reports over two-thirds of Bexar County respondents are overweight or obese--and that is why San Antonio is rallying to take on the challenge of obesity head-on. For their efforts, First Lady Michelle Obama has hailed San Antonio as a leader in addressing the crisis, and an example for other cities across the country.
This mobilization includes the creation of the Mayor's Fitness Council, and the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District's new citywide anti-obesity campaign--the Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) initiative--funded by a $15.6 million federal stimulus grant. The CPPW initiative includes the creation of the Active Living and Food Policy Councils, whose missions are changing policies, systems and the environment for a healthier San Antonio. In order to successfully sustain and build on these positive changes, San Antonio will need to build grassroots and community coalitions, and that is where the Mayor's Fitness Council comes in.
"San Antonio did not arrive at this point overnight," said Mayor Castro. "We can change, but we must do it as a community by providing people with the resources, opportunities, and tools they need to make fitness and healthy eating a part of their daily lives."
The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District has created and implemented policies like Complete Streets to change the built environment to make physical activity more accessible and safe. Through programs like these they plan do the following: improve streets for safer bike riding and outdoor exercising, install outdoor fitness stations for neighborhood use, encourage healthier options on restaurant menus and in schools, provide helpful information for making healthier choices and place health monitoring systems in San Antonio public libraries.
Metro Health Director Dr. Fernando Guerra said addressing obesity is vital in keeping Bexar County healthy. "We recognize that this one of the most important public health initiatives for our entire community," he said. "And we know that it will serve to promote the good health and well being of our current and future generations as it relates to risks for conditions like obesity and its adverse health consequences."
For more information on Saturday's event, call 207-5373 or 207-5381.
About the Mayor's Fitness Council
The San Antonio Mayor’s Fitness Council (MFC) seeks to create an innovative model for promoting health and fitness through community education, engagement, and outreach that harnesses the power of technology, media and leadership networks. The MFC also seeks to build a sustainable organizational structure that will continue to address health and fitness issues in the city of San Antonio.
About the Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW)
The $15.6 million Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) grant was awarded to the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District to address the obesity problem in our community in partnership with several local businesses, organizations, school districts, and other City of San Antonio departments. Together, the partnership will increase physical activity and improve nutrition in the community by implementing several strategic, evidence-based policy, environmental, and systems changes.