Supporting the Philadelphia Department of Public Health's application to the U. S. Centers for Disease Control for grant funding of Obesity, Physical Activity, and Nutrition Programs.

WHEREAS

, Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the Centers for Disease Control has issued a funding opportunity for health departments to implement sustainable, proven, population-based approaches to increase healthy eating and physical activity, and decrease the prevalence of obesity; and

WHEREAS

, Health departments of large cities with over 1 million people are eligible to apply directly for funding that will support programs for a 2-year period beginning on February 26, 2010; and

WHEREAS,

Applying communities must establish diverse coalitions including city government leaders, board of health members, schools, businesses, community and faith-based organizations, transportation and land use planners, parks and recreation officials, health care purchasers and providers, health insurers, academic institutions, and foundations; and

WHEREAS

, Over 55% of children and nearly 65% of adults in the City are overweight or obese; 20% of children report eating fast food 3 or more times per week; and only a small percentage of residents are meeting physical activity and fruit/vegetable consumption goals.

WHEREAS,

Effective efforts to improve community health must address the environmental and social obstacles that stand in the way of good nutrition and physical activity by expanding access to healthy foods, educating children and adults to make better food choices, and making walking and biking the norm; and

WHEREAS,

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health has developed plans to make healthy produce accessible in low-income neighborhoods, establish wellness councils in schools, implement broad-based media campaigns to promote healthy food choices, and work with other City agencies to promote walking, biking, and other healthy physical activities; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED

,

BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA

,

That we hereby fully endorse the application of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health for grant funding from the U. S. Centers for Disease Control for Obesity Prevention, Physical Activity, and Nutrition Programs.

End