Oklahoma City is on a Diet.
January 7, 2008 by Liz Lewis
Filed under Diets and Dieting, Fitness, Food and Drink, Health, Misc., Morning News, Obesity
Oklahoma City is getting larger.
And it’s no wonder.
It’s the capital of a state that has an official state meal consisting of heavy duty fattening foods such as cornbread, chicken fried steak, sausage and gravy, and pecan pie.
And if that’s not enough, Oklahoma City also has the dubious honor of being the ‘Fast Food Capital of America.’
Now the mayor of Oklahoma City is saying enough is enough. Concerned that the city ranked 15th in the 2007 Men’s Fitness survey of America’s fattest cities, Mayor Mick Cornett is challenging the residents of Oklahoma City to loss 1 million pounds in a year.
It’s time, he says, for the city to go on a diet.
Mayor Cornett believes his city is up to the challenge. Residents are invited to sign up and track their weight loss at OKC Million, the official city diet website. So far, more than 6,000 have registered since December 31, 2007 and have had a combined weight loss of over 1300 pounds.
I guess if this doesn’t work, Mayor Cornett can always offer money for pounds. That’s what the mayor of a small Italian town did last year. Concerned about the heaviness of his town, Mayor Gianluca Buonanno offered financial incentives to lose weight.
“…Townsmen would receive 50 euros (about $74) if they lost 9 pounds in a month; townswomen would get that same amount for shedding 7 pounds. What’s more, if participants managed to keep the weight off for five solid months, they each stood to gain an additional 200 euros ($295).”
Interesting idea…
By the way, if you’re interested in where your city stands in the weight stakes, read the recent Forbes.com article America’s Most Obese Cities
It wasn’t Oklahoma, but I visited North Carolina this past September, we stayed near Calabash. I have never, in my life, ever seen such high calorie-laden foods ever.
But oh my… they were sooooo good. I gained 5 pounds during my week’s vacation. I’m thinking of OK city needs it more, I may want to avoid visiting there for now.
This is really a great idea. I think more communities should get involved like this. A lot of times all a person needs is a support system to make positive changes, and what better support than a whole dang city?!? Kudos to Mayor Cornett for spear-heading a positive challenge like this.
Eat more healthfully, exercise more, and get regular medical checkups; these are the top three goals that remain relatively unchanged. Diet4idiots helps in healthy food intake
Jamesina, you’re absolutely right – eat healthy, exercise more, and regular medical checkups are the key. But not everyone recognizes that or has the discipline to succeed and this is where I think incentives like what the mayor of Oklahoma City is creating is great. Sometimes people need a little push.
Marijke, sounds like you should stay away from OK…problem with this type of food – it tastes so good, it stays with a long, long time…
i dont really think that this is a good idea.
we can pay so that people will loose weight but we cant get better things for our public schools?
this makes no sense. i went to a public school for 8 years ans now i go to a private school.
so yes i know what im talking about when i say many public schools dont have half of the materials needed. i am not trying to be against “fat” people. but i think that since they got themselves into this mess, they can get themselves out.
i have no sympathy, unless it’s a medical condition.