Welcome to Mass in Motion!

Posted by:
Commissioner John Auerbach, Department of Public Health

Welcome to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's Mass In Motion website.  Today we are delighted to unveil this website and the accompanying components of the first comprehensive and multi-faceted campaign to reduce the state’s trends toward overweight and obesity and to decrease the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes among the residents of the Commonwealth.

This initiative incorporates a wide variety of proven approaches: from  menu labeling at chain restaurants to workforce wellness activities; from school-based healthy meal programs to broad community mobilizations that will change the modes of transportation and access to supermarkets and farmers' markets.  No single step is by itself sufficient to combat the epidemic of obesity and its surprising twin, malnutrition, and all their accompanying health risks.  Instead we need multiple overlapping efforts that will create the supportive environment we need to promote healthy eating habits and physical activity.

We begin this campaign in the midst of a serious economic downturn. Some might wonder if this makes sense as money is tighter for everyone.  Our answer is that this is the exact time we need this kind of endeavor.  In fact, Mass in Motion was designed with the new economic realities in mind.  How?  Well, first of all, the lower your income the more likely that you will be both overweight and undernourished—the seeming contradiction that occurs when the cheapest and most accessible foods are the ones with the highest amount of calories and saturated fat.  At a time of recession, more people are likely to be eating poorly, not exercising, and gaining weight. 

This effort is also timely because our state is in the midst of implementing invaluable but costly health care reform, and rapidly expanding the number of people who have health insurance.  For the long-term viability of such an ambitious goal, we need to keep the cost of health care under control.  The very best and most cost-effective way to do that is to promote good health rather than treat diseases like diabetes and heart disease that our new program can stop in their tracks.  One might even think of Mass in Motion as the ideal type of cost containment.

Over the coming weeks and months you will see lots of new elements of our campaign.  For example, on this web site we will soon have a calendar of local community wellness events, so you'll be able to find out what is happening in your own neighborhood.  And soon we will be releasing a grant program to funds 10 cities and towns to mobilize all municipal departments to work in sync to create conditions where the default behavior is a healthy one. 

Please join us in this effort.  Check this web site regularly for the latest information, videos and updates. Investigate what you can do in your home, your children's schools, your workplace, and your community to promote your and your loved ones' health.  We need your help to maximize the effectiveness of this undertaking.  You may think that a small, beginning step is all that is possible at the moment.  Go ahead and take it! We know from experience that it is often the small, steady and supported steps that make the difference in changing the patterns that develop over decades.  Our Mass in Motion is designed to help you take those steps, and more, by changing the environment and the policies that affect us as all.

Comments

[Ricardo Rodriguez Cid]

Amazing site, very useful and in my opinion perhaps the best blog in some Public Health topics.

Ricardo Rodríguez CiD MD PhD MPH.

------------------ DPH Responds: Muchas gracias, Ricardo. Siempre nos da gusto saber que nuestro trabajo es útil y de calidad. Le invito a que nos proponga maneras de mejorar esta página. Por ejemplo, estamos planeando añadir información general sobre las calorías en los alimentos, cuántas calorías debe ingerir el adulto promedio, cómo leer adecuadamente una etiqueta con información nutricional, etc. Si se le ocurre algo importante que deberíamos agregar, por favor díganos. Gracias por sus comentarios.

[Susan Baker]

How about BMI testing for all state employees and representatives, starting with the Department of Public Health? Then the results could be posted to the public funding the programs to inspire our youth.

I would like to know what will happen if my kids refuse to be weighed. Stop funding this nonsense, anyone with a mirror and eyes knows they are overweight. Start mandating better foods in school cafeterias instead of fat/salt/preservative laden junk and give less choices. No more sugar saturated flavored milks and sodas and empty value carbs. Try telling people to get off their sofas and look away from tv and computers.

[Debbi]

Flu mutates quickly. We need to be sure that we have a right to decline and let our natural defenses work.It is wrong to force anyone including healthcare workers into receiving a vacine. wear respirators as necessary.

[Pamela Grace]

As a Registered Nurse I am acutely aware of the devastating health effects of the obesity crisis. The obesity epidemic affects us all whether on a personal, professional, economic, or political basis. The Mass in Motion initiative although not perfect is a step in the right direction towards increasing physical activity and decreasing obesity trends. Nurses see firsthand the effects of obesity and physical inactivity; increase in heart disease and diabetes, decrease in ability to move independently, increase in complications of surgery, emotional distress and isolation are but a handful of the deleterious effects of this trend on the health of our Commonwealth. If we are to age in the most healthy manner with the best quality of life, we need to focus on the overwhelming task of decreasing obesity rates and improve our overall conditioning.

[Xtine]

The BMI program was mandated as part of the school's growth screening evaluations because it is the one place that all children are required to attend by law. Since there are no laws requiring regular check ups with a physician, it gives ALL children an opportunity to be screened and for the parents to be alerted to potential present and future health problems. There are many families and children throughout Massachusetts who do not have access to healthcare that is affordable or convenient. Some parents do not have the opportunity to take off of work for MD appointments (since most only operate during typical work hours).

If those of you who are opposed to this BMI program read through the volumes of studies linking obesity in childhood to adult obesity, health issues later in life, and a decrease in years of life of those with high BMI's from a young age, you might change your opinions on this matter. (I personally want my children to have an opportunity to lead long lives uncomplicated by poor health - the years they lose due to obesity are real and I refuse to contribute to their early death) Think about the fact that our children attend school for most of their waking hours...this is a place that strongly influences their lifelong eating and physical activity habits.

The BMI program is not a personal insult to parents, it's a wake up call for some and reinforcement of things the might already know for others. Our culture has been unhealthy for a long time with the increased use of computers, gaming systems, junk food advertisements, etc...Parents are working harder then ever with longer hours in more demanding jobs. A lot of the visible conveniences in life are unhealthy choices (fast food namely). Awareness that comes along with initiating a BMI program at school might trigger changes in behaviors of parents and children. The next step would be to develop programs to deal with the issue of obesity and inactivity. But first, we need the data to support a need for these progams.

So far, as a society, we have proven that we make poor health related choices (see stats on obesity, risk behavior surveys, census data). Be open minded to a new approach, put your defensive side away, and make a healthy change for you and your children today.

[Suzanne]

Glad to hear your interested Wendy. We expect to release the Request for Responses in early March. When we do, we'll post an announcement on the Mass in Motion website (www.mass.gov/massinmotion).

Just so you know, the purpose of the grants will be to encourage entire municpalities to work to create healhtier communities.

Suzanne Crowther
DPH Communications Office

[Wendy Bernstein]

As a Registered Dietitian, I would like info to apply for a grant for our Western Mass school district, where is this info/opportunity located?

Thank you

[Suzanne]

Thanks for asking about the grants to cities and towns Judi. We're very exicted to be able to fund this project with the help of many of the state's health foundations. We expect to release the Request for Responses in early March. When we do, we'll post an announcement on the Mass in Motion website (www.mass.gov/massinmotion).

Suzanne Crowther
DPH Communications Office

[Judi Mosso]

As a municipal employee, I'd like to see exactly WHERE and HOW towns can apply for the grants mentioned. I have a few active residents and various committees who ask about the grants every now and then. I have been digging/searching for 2 months and have found *nothing* about how to apply.

[Alan Laubenstein]

As a Wellness teacher, I applaud this initiative and wonder if anyone has any sample letters that report BMI to home. I am looking for thoughtful/sensitive/informational samples.

[Linda]

City workers get discounted or free memberships at our local YMCA. The verification is simply showing a current paycheck to verify employment. Why can't that be implemented for State Employees or Retirees....most local gyms are too expensive or want to deduct monthly payments from checking accounts even if you cannot attend. Even a "pay as you go" free gym pass would be great! The added stress of more work and less workers to do the job makes exercise even more important.

[mary]

This is an ambitious venture and a necessary one! It must be approached with common sense and practical education. Many individuals (of all ages)need to have assistance with food preparation and shopping for food. Our marketing society presents a plethora of food attractions and distractions; time constraints justify our food choices.

We have the human rsources to meet this problem.

[Barbara Porter]

BUT-unless you do something about the lack of CHROMIUM content in your diets you will be left floundering in your fatigue! Insulin requires the assistance of CHROMIUM and MAGNESIUM to get glucose into the cells where it can be burned for energy. CHROMIUM makes receptors on the cells to recieve the glucose. I've seen obese people starving inside their bodies, going blind, neuropathy, amputations, kidneys failing because of lack of Chromium and magnesium. Ask your schools to try adding these supplements for a trial experiment. Brown rice is rich in Chromium.
How fortunate you are to live in a State that cares about your health and longevity. Your government actually cares!
Yes, to counting calories,
Yes, to exercise. Yes, to better school lunches and BMI attention!

I wish you much success and hope this program catches on in our state.
From Washington State.

[yvonne]

I want to exercise at my local YMCA but I can't afford the membership fee and they've done away with an affordable pay as you go program. I'd love to get a voucher from the state to help pay for a health club membership or get a tax break at the end of the year. Here in the cold Northeast there's only so much walking you can do.

[Laurie Stillman, Director of Public Health Policy]

I have studied evidence-based best practices for addressing the growing obesity epidemic in Massachusetts for nearly ten years. Kudos to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for selecting some of the most prudent regulations for helping families to make better choices to support their health. Knowledge is power. However many families have no clue regarding the calorie content of the foods that are offered in restaurants, nor how to calculate their children's BMI and address their associated weight issues. Giving consumers and parents more information is a great start for helping communities take positive steps to reversing this very serious epidemic.

[Susan P.]

I think Liz's idea for state workers is GREAT! There are probably challenges to implementation, but so what.

[Robin Klar]

These efforts are a good start. If however, we are going to be measuring school children's BMI's, we need to attend to the built environment influence of school lunches and lack of opportunity for physical activity. Sending home a slip of paper with a child's BMI offers no support to families who may already be aware or who do not have the financial or human resources available to implement changes.

[Liz]

I agree that promoting wellness can lower health care costs and that such programs should be promoted in the workplace. Please make sure that the Commonwealth sets an example by doing this for state employees. I recently offered to bring in my Nordic track and set it up in the employee break room, so I and my co-workers could use it. Even 15 minutes during a morning or afternoon break or 20 minutes at lunch is better than nothing. I was told no, because someone might get hurt. The state has cafeterias in many locations. Why not set up some treadmills? I bet people (and health clubs updating their equipment) would be willing to donate some.

[Teresa Osborne]

I appreciate the fact that obesity is a genuine public health concern and applaud efforts to encourage businesses to provide the nutritional content of their menus. However, in order to be truly useful to the complete population these businesses will have to provide sodium, carbohydrate, protein and fat content and will have to list complete ingredients to account for food allergies. To mandate this disclosure by law will place an unnecessary buden on already strapped businesses and the regulation and enforcement will sap tax dollars and human resources that can be better utilized elsewhere.

Moreover, I must strongly stress that BMI testing has absolutely no place in the public school system.

My children and I are acutely aware of all dietary and exercise best practices, as my daughter has Type 1 diabetes. (Type 1 diabetes requires insulin dependancy for life and is not in any way related to Type 2 diabetes, which is largely based on one's diet over many years.)

The idea that our public school would assess my child's BMI and provide her and our family with "helpful recommendations" on altering body shape and composition is offensive, a waste of time and money and sets the stage for even further spread of body image and eating disorders among children and teenagers.

This program appears well intentioned, but is utterly lacking in forethought around implementation, program management and costs, and right to privacy laws.

[Bozena Nadhazy]

I sincerely think that my money (paid taxes) will be misused, and you (State) have no right to do it.
I have no problem with providing healthy meals in public schools-that's great. If there are water fountains in the schools I would eliminate all the vending machines.
Most people get to supermarkets without any problems and access to the farmer's markets will not change their desire to shop there; it is too expensive for average consumers!!! (I know, I shop there once in a while).
Workforce wellness activities-what are you thinking? Do Employers have funds for providing any type of additional services for Employees at the time when the cost of health insurance is rising as are other expenses to run any business; they will be happy just to stay alive.
Quote: "grant program to funds 10 cities and towns to mobilize all municipal departments to work in sync to create conditions where the default behavior is a healthy one".
Which are the (10) lucky ones (ha,ha,ha)- but seriously at the time when people are loosing jobs left & right and the State tax revenue (all types of taxes) is only decreasing, how will you fund these grants?
Most of us have their family physicians or access to other medical persons and the weight problems should be primarily addressed by them including consultation with dietician (covered by many insurance plans).
BN, Seekonk, MA

[Beth]

Since when is it the school's responsibility to fix "everything"! This has no business in the schools. They are overloaded with all the other social ills that keep getting put on their plate.

[anne]

This is great! I hope you will use this to get specific feedback as the campaign progresses.

[Marie Shannon]

I think its ok for food establishments to disclose fat content and related ingredients, purely for consumer knowledge.

However, schools should stay out of our own refrigerators. We already know how to be parents, thank you.

Marie Shannon
Tyngsboro, Mass

[Valerie McKay]

This is a cool blog!