Friday, October 3, 2008

Atlanta on the right track

Currently Atlanta is ranked as the 16th most obese city in America. With just over a quarter of its population with a BMI of 30 or more, ATL needs a change. Known as a major commuter city, residents require something to get them going physically during the day. Also eating right can be tough in the South. Let’s be honest, when you have a place called Chicken and Waffles, your city has a problem with eating.

As of October the city is participating in a program called Wellness2Go. Members of this system work in City Hall and have access to incentives at healthy food locations and gyms. Not only are city employees being rewarded for living healthier but the food sponsors of their program have the same access to the incentives.

Wellness2Go falls under the new category of Integrated Health Marketing (IHM). Under programs like this, not only is a health issue the focus but equally important is offering marketing incentives to the community. By people in the community being rewarded for success disseminating the message, the program has true support everywhere.