Increasing Access to Healthy Food & Beverages Alfredo Camacho-Gonzalez Nutrition Education & Obesity Prevention Coordinator
Collaborative Partners
Healthy in Pomona Findings Community Data Two Health Summits: July 2014 January 2015 Resident Surveys Key Stakeholder Interviews Community Focus Groups Pomona Valley Hospital: 2015 Community Health Needs Assessment 10 Health Themes Access to Healthy Food Healthy Environment Caring for Each Other Exercise Culturally-Competant Communication Access to Health Care Family Activities Economic Security Public Safety Education
Healthy Eating, Active Living Cities Campaign HEAL was established in California in 2008 as the result of a partnership between the League of California Cities and the California Center for Public Health Advocacy. Pomona officially became a HEAL city, upon adoption of the HEAL resolution on October 15th, 2012. The resolution outlined policy steps to address high obesity rates. As of June 2014: 171 City Councils, 1 County, and 1 School Board have adopted the HEAL resolution. 248 Policies related to land use, access to healthy food and employee wellness have been adopted.
HEAL Resolution Goals
Why Healthy Food Access Our city would set precedence and lead by example This policy continues the work of the HEAL resolution and addresses our goal of increasing healthy food access.
Pomona s High Obesity Rate Pomona is ranked the 8 th most obese and overweight city in LA County: 1. Huntington Park 2. South Gate 3. Compton 4. Maywood 5. El Monte 6. Gardena 7. Cudahy 8. Pomona
Healthy Food & Beverage Standards Policy Sets nutrition standards for meals, snacks and beverages purchased and served by local government or agency. Sets nutrition standards for food and beverage vending machines on city property. Standards apply to all foods purchased with public funds and served to the public; Not food purchased with own money. Some policies also encourage employees to consider nutrition standards when planning special events and celebrations.
Healthy Snacks and Beverage Examples
Why Cities Enact This Policy The Fiscal Impact: Most staff reports for food procurement and healthy vending show no significant fiscal impact. Conversely, the cost of overweight/obesity costs LA County $6 Billion, Annually. Healthy food often encourages the buy local mentality, which helps the local economy. It is Backed By Research: Cities who passed policy around food procurement have cited various research studies that link the obesity epidemic to environmental conditions to the easy availability of high calorie, low-nutrition foods and limited access to healthy foods. Evidence based, best practices point to policy changes as a proven method to change the health outcomes. They Are Taking Local Responsibility: Best practices for population-based obesity prevention are focused on improving the food environment, and making the healthy choice the easy choice. The IOM s report: Local Government Action to Prevent Childhood Obesity (2009) and CDC recommend that local governments implement policies and practices to promote healthy food and beverages at the local level.
Common Misconceptions & Myths Bans all unhealthy food and shames people who eat unhealthy food. Does not ban unhealthy food, policy ensure healthy options are made available for residents, encourages healthier options and behavior but does not shame anybody. The policy can have exemptions and does not apply to food brought from home. It is anti-business or healthy food is more expensive. The policy does not affect the business community at all, it just makes healthy options more available to visitors. As far as cost: fruits and vegetables are lowcost healthy snacks with a healthy food and beverage industry that is growing with many low-cost options to choose from. People don t want to eat healthy. A Snack Food Association survey conducted for found that 3/4 of Americans want to eat healthier, and 2/3 s of Americans are eating specific foods in an effort to lose weight.
Common Misconceptions & Myths We can t tell people what or what not to eat. While personal choice is a contributing factor to obesity, in cities where unhealthy food is too readily available and healthy options are far and few, governments can take a role in addressing the food environment. This policy won t solve obesity, we can be doing more. One policy won t solve the obesity epidemic issue, but it is a step in the right direction. Healthy food familiarity changes norms and encourages healthy behavior, also the Institute of Medicine (IOM) identified healthy food access as one of the top 5 strategies in reducing obesity. *Ex: PYFMP
Conclusion and Next Steps Ultimately, this policy helps make the healthy choice, the easy choice. Ensures that healthy eating is not last in priority to ease and what has always been done. Next Steps Direct City Staff to Draft A Healthy Vending & Food Procurement Policy
For More Information, Contact Us! Alfredo Camacho-Gonzalez Alfredo@GoDayOne.org (424) 333-1142