<p>SAMPLE ANNOUNCEMENT Childhood and adult obesity is the leading cause of chronic disease around the world and here in Missouri. But chronic disease, overweight and obesity could be averted if more Missouri residents had access to sidewalks, bicycle lanes and access to an active quality of life. The best way to find access is to help create it. To increase awareness of the importance of active quality of life access, the Missouri Livable Streets project proudly launches its “Get Livable Missouri” campaign. In Missouri, over 65% of adults are overweight or obese (DHSS, 2007 County Level Study). [Insert your own local quote or use ours:] “We are proud to lead this effort,” said Trevor Harris, project coordinator of Missouri Livable Streets. “With over 10 collaborating partners, including State Highway Administration, MoDOT and DHSS, we are helping communities large and small across the state who are interested in increasing their towns’ and residents’ quality of life.” The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services says that long term health can be improved if parents and communities start moving early, and having access to parks and other recreational options is key to that success. [Insert any details of your organization’s activities or related upcoming events] Everyone is at risk for chronic disease, but the most at risk are those who are overweight or obese. Overweight is having a Body Mass Index (BMI) between 25.0 - 29.9, and obese means having a BMI over 30. Whether a small town or big city, everyone can take these healthy steps to help improve access to a better quality of life:  Get moving. As little as 30 minutes of walking a day can help keep the weight off and create healthier hearts.  Rethink your perspective. Some design and development projects may seem too costly. But these projects often mean long term investment in a community’s economy and residents’ overall health.  Talk to a design professional. Creating more access to parks, bicycle lanes and sidewalks can be done with the help of your local Regional Planning Commission. Find out more at: URL  Find your funding dollars. Some projects are costly but can be defrayed through a number of funding mechanisms. See what is available to you. URL For more information, visit Missouri Livable Streets at livablestreets.missouri.edu or [insert your organization information].</p>