Greetings Alabama Obesity Task Force members and partners! I am pleased to have the opportunity to serve as your Chair for the upcoming year. We have quickly hit the ground running with a successful strategic planning workshop to zero in on our collective focus to make an even greater impact on the health of all Alabamians. The purpose of the Alabama Obesity Task Force is to support and promote healthy lifestyles in Alabama through collaboration, programs, policy changes, and environmental changes. In 2015, we launched the Get Moving Alabama campaign to recognize the importance of physical activity while encouraging physical activity opportunities for everyone. You can learn about the many other highlights of our recent work and collaborations in this newsletter. I encourage you to get plugged in as we work to revamp our committees and join us at one of our four quarterly meetings a year held at various locations across the state. To borrow quote from a former Chair, Kathe Briggs, I plan to unify this “loose band of gypsies” that all have a passion for reducing the obesity epidemic in Alabama.

The Alabama Healthy Vending Machine Program (AHVMP) is leading the way in improving the foods offered in vending machines, snack shops, cafeterias, corner stores, and checkout lanes.

AHVMP uses the 10-10-5 rule to identify healthy snacks:

• 200 calories of less per serving - only one serving
• 10% or less Daily Value of total fat
• 230mg sodium or less
• 10% or less Daily Value of total carbohydrate
• 5% or more Daily Value of at least one: fiber, vitamin D, calcium, potassium, or iron

In addition to the nearly 40 sites across the state of Alabama that are using AHVMP, Public Health Nutritionist and Registered Dietitian Sahra Pak has implemented the program in Solano County California. Here's what she had to say about the program kickoff: "the event was a success! We were able to share Alabama DPH’s wonderful work with our City Mayor, Board of Supervisors and other key persons in the city and county as well as staff and store customers."

Click here for more information on AHVMP, including access to the toolkit, promotional materials, fact sheets, etc.

“Get Moving Alabama” was the theme for the 2016 Alabama Employee Health and Fitness Walk which was held on Friday, May 13, 2016, at the State Capitol. The walking event targeted worksites located in Montgomery to encourage employees and others to get up and move throughout the work day as part of an active lifestyle. The goal of this annual event is to encourage physical activity in the workplace and promote healthy habits.

Approximately 300 walkers participated in the event setting their own pace as they completed the one-mile walk. Health and fitness vendors shared related information and provided health screenings to event participants.

The event was sponsored by the Alabama Department of Public Health, the Governor’s Commission on Physical Fitness and Sports, the Alabama State Employees’ Insurance Board (SEIB) and the Alabama Sports Festival (ASF) Foundation.

Get Moving Alabama continued in a big way for the 2016 Alabama Senior Olympics held in Trussville and Hoover this past April and May. Over 450 athletes from 7 different states participated in sports ranging from Track and Field, Swimming, 3 on 3 basketball, Pickleball, Table tennis, Archery,Tennis, Golf and more. This event is a qualifier for athletes 50 years and older who want to participate in next years 2017 National Senior Olympics to be held in Birmingham with close to 12,000 athletes from around the country are expected to compete. More seniors are participating in team and individual sports in Alabama than ever before , just another example of how Alabamians are getting moving, no matter the age.

For more information, check out the Governor's Commission on Physical Fitness!

On February 26, 2016 over 160 physical activity professionals gathered at Restore First United Methodist Church of Alabaster for the Get Moving Alabama Physical Activity Summit. National, state and local speakers shared tips, tools and actions to promote a healthy lifestyle through the creation and encouragement of physical activity opportunities for everyone in Alabama. One of the highlights of the day was a panel of Alabama Mayors sharing how their cities have embraced and promoted physical activity. Attendees were active throughout the day moving between a variety of concurrent sessions on topics ranging from a school resource fair, increasing access to safe and affordable physical activity, bike share program, spiritual wellness, breakfast and exercise, the performance triad and optimizing learning readiness through movement. Keynotes included a representative from the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition sharing information on national programs and the state AARP director discussing the livability index in Alabama cities.

How livable is your community? Find out by visiting the AARP Livability Index!

The Mayor’s Models of Movement Panel featured at the 2016 Get Moving Alabama Summit was a great success! The following communities were represented by their mayor and/or city representative as follows: Rainsville, AL- Mayor Nick Jones, Birmingham, AL – Mayor William Bell, Huntsville, AL – Mayor Tommy Battle, Montgomery, AL- Director of Public Information and External Affairs, Michael Briddell, and Alabaster, AL- Mayor Marty Handlon. Each mayor shared the biggest initiatives currently going on in their city to promote a healthier lifestyle among their citizens as well as long-term visions for their communities. All of the mayors agreed that multiple partnerships with community organizations are the key to success for implementing a long-term program that community members will invest in. The discussion ended with each mayor sharing their favorite ways to get active whether it’s playing with their grandchildren, doing yoga, being active in sports, or walking through their community. Many thanks to each and every mayor for their participation in this great event!