Miami-Dade Fighting Obesity With "Make Healthy Happen" Initiative

(MIAMI) – A massive project designed to make Miami residents healthier is gaining ground and CBS4 is proud to be a part of the push for a healthier Miami.

Friday, the Miami-Dade County Health Department hosted an event at the Sofitel Hotel in Miami which showcased the local work being done to combat obesity through the national Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW).

"It's about creating an environment where people see the right messages and at the end of the day they make the right choice," said Dr. Lillian Rivera from the Miami-Dade Health Department.

From bringing healthy vending machines into senior highs schools and parks, to increasing the number of bicycle lanes and racks in cities, to encouraging worksite wellness programs; the Make Healthy Happen Miami initiative is working to put healthy options in reach for everyone.

"One of the emphasis of this is trying to avoid childhood obesity," Rivera said.

With financial support from a two-year grant, the initiative has implemented the installation of healthy vending machines in public schools.

The hope is by teaching children healthy habits, parents will start making changes too.

"I see it with my own children, they talk to them about it in school, they come home and start talking to us about where are our vegetables and what not," said Miami-Dade Commissioner Esteban Bovo Jr.

CBS4 Vice President/General Manager Adam Levy spoke during the Make Healthy Happen Miami event on the station's campaign for the initiative.

"We've also been at Miami Dolphin games and other events trying to get the word out and raising awareness around this issue," explained Levy.

Almost 65-percent of adults in Miami are overweight or obese and the initiative is designed to make sure the children in our community don't follow the same path.

According to the CPPW, Make Healthy Happen Miami's main objective is to "empower residents to bring about change in their communities, transform behavior leading to chronic disease, and inspire residents to improve their nutritional habits, decrease screen time, and increase physical activity."

In addition to offering healthy eating options and improving physical activity in schools, the "Make Healthy Happen" initiatives also address child care centers, access to healthy foods in convenience stores, farmer's markets, breastfeeding practices and active transportation and recreation.

Log onto www.makehealthyhappenmiami.com to learn how you can help.