Waterloo was one of 6 cities recognized for their child obesity prevention program.

Today (1/19/17) the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) announced the winners of the 2017 Childhood Obesity Prevention Awards during the organization’s 85th Winter Meeting in Washington, DC. The awards went to cities with outstanding programs that encourage healthy weight through balanced diet choices and regular physical activity.

 “The winning programs showcase the creativity and innovation of America’s mayors as well as their dedication to the health and wellness of their cities. This partnership exemplifies that by working together, government and industry can bring about real and lasting change to communities across the nation.” - Susan Neely, CEO of the American Beverage Association.

Six U.S. cities were recognized for their mayoral-based initiatives:

Large Cities

  • Las Vegas, NV
  • Phoenix, AZ

Medium Cities

  • Columbia, SC
  • Gresham, OR

Small Cities

  • Huntington, WV
  • Waterloo, IA

“The health and welfare of our young people is always our Mayors’ top priority. From improving walkability in neighborhoods to bringing nutrition and cooking curricula into schools, Mayors across the country are designing innovative strategies to make sure our kids understand how to eat healthy and stay active and fit. And our partnership with the American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America, over the past five years, has made a substantial investment in this effort, and been an incubator for the best of those strategies.” - Tom Cochran, USCM CEO and executive director.

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