Philadelphia gets $25 million to reduce obesity, smoking
Friday, March 19th, 2010
By: Tom MacDonald
tmacdonald@whyy.org
The city of Philadelphia has been picked for two federal grants that could make residents healthier.
Philadelphia will get $25.4 million in federal money to fight obesity and smoking. Dr. Donald Schwartz is the city's health commissioner. He says the money will be put to use in education and enforcement campaigns.
"The ability to conduct broad-based campaigns like these to reduce smoking and affect obesity is unprecedented for Philadelphia," Schwartz said. "We look forward to making substantial changes to the way we behave as a city, the way we do business as a city makes us all healthier."
The obesity grant will include funding to bring healthier foods into neighborhoods that haven't had access to them in the past.
The anti-smoking grant will include a crackdown on illegal sales of cigarettes and an advertising campaign to direct people to stop smoking hotlines that provide nicotine replacement kits.
I am delighted that funds are being made available to fight obesity in Philadelphia. Warwick Ford and I have just published our runners and walkers guide book "Philadelphia Running and Walking". We personally research and write our books to motivate people of all ages to get out on foot more. We hope our book will encourage Philadelphians to get fit while exploring this wonderful city.