JERSEY CITY – The National League of Cities (NLC) has recognized Jersey City for successfully completing the 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. LMCTC calls upon local elected officials to adopt sustainable and holistic policies that improve communities’ access to healthy affordable food and opportunities for physical activity through five goal areas.
“We congratulate and commend Jersey City for your efforts to improve the health of your community’s children and families,” said NLC President Chris Coleman, mayor of Saint Paul, Minn. “Through the leadership and dedication of local elected officials in cities, towns and counties across the country, we are beginning to see a measurable decrease in obesity rates and a cultural shift towards health.”
Five gold medals were awarded to Jersey City for action taken to improve access to healthy, affordable food and increase opportunities for physical activity. Over the past year, Jersey City was awarded all five gold medals for promoting participation in Let’s Move! by collaborating on early care and education programs; taking at least two actions to expand children’s access to programs that offer healthy food before, during and after the school day, and/or over the summer months; launching policies, programs or initiatives from the action plan to increase access to physical activity; plus banning smoking in the parks, increasing awareness on shopping for healthier foods on a budget and more.
Jersey City awarded for battle against childhood obesity
