Columbia singled out among US cities for fighting childhood obesity

The Capital City is among 52 U.S. cities to be recognized Wednesday by the White House as achieving gold medal status for meeting the five goals in the first lady’s Lets Move! program to reduce child obesity.

Michelle Obama announced Columbia’s special status, signaling the city is among 500 cities and towns that have committed to the goals. The goals include providing healthy school meals, opportunities for physical activity in and outside of school and healthier early care and education programs.

Councilwoman Tameika Isaac Devine attended the White House ceremony honoring cities, towns and counties, which make up a key element of the overall Let’s Move! program.

“All of our achievements ... in Columbia are due to the support of city leaders, our partners and the community overall,” Devine said in a statement. “We are so proud to be a gold medalist city.”

She was at the event along with representatives of the National League of Cities and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

“These local policymakers ... are transforming their communities into healthier places,” the league’s president, Ralph Becker, said in a statement.

This story was originally published September 16, 2015 at 3:30 PM with the headline "Columbia singled out among US cities for fighting childhood obesity."