February 3, 2005

SOUTHFIELD - Moving more, eating better, and not smoking are three key behaviors that lead to longer life and improved health in citizens statewide, according to a new, coordinated effort designed by the state’s Surgeon General to create a healthier Michigan.

“Now is the time for all of us - from every corner of the state - to take a unified stand against obesity, chronic disease, and unhealthy lifestyles and their serious toll on our economy and quality of life,” said Dr. Kimberlydawn Wisdom, Michigan Surgeon General. “In order to have productive and prosperous communities, we must have healthy people. Michigan Steps Up is the catalyst for that collective change.”

At a launch event today at the Pistons Hoop City Grille in Southfield, Wisdom teamed up with First Gentleman Dan Mulhern, the Detroit Pistons and Shock, and the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness, Sports, and Health to kickoff the Michigan Steps Up campaign, which will debut this week across the state with a new interactive web site.

“Connecting with communities is vitally important to the Palace organization, and so is supporting our Surgeon General and her efforts to improve health across our state,” said Tom Wilson, President and CEO of Palace Sports & Entertainment. “The people of Michigan should be proud to have the country’s only state-level Surgeon General aggressively tackling these critically important issues.”

The website, www.michiganstepsup.org, contains all of the tools citizens need to start improving their personal health, including personal planning tips that help individuals set and track goals, free healthy recipes and snack ideas, ideas for making healthy choices when eating out, daily health tips from Wisdom, and links to hundreds of health-related resources. Citizens can also call 1.877.422.4244 for additional information about the Michigan Steps Up initiative.

The healthy lifestyles campaign will help to reduce risk factors that threaten the health of Michigan citizens by recommending increases in physical activity, improving healthy eating, and reducing tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke.

“As a proponent of mentoring, inspiring children, and living by example, I believe that Michigan Steps Up provides a special opportunity for families in Michigan to get healthy together and for parents to teach their kids and kids teach their parents about having fun while making good choices,” said First Gentleman Daniel Granholm Mulhern.

The healthy lifestyles campaign will help to reduce risk factors that threaten the health of Michigan citizens by recommending increases in physical activity, improving healthy eating, and reducing tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke.

“The Governor's Council on Physical Fitness is pleased to support the Steps Up campaign. As citizens become more knowledgeable about the importance of making healthy choices, they will ultimately drive good public policy on topics such as safe routes to school, quality physical education and walkable communities,” said Marilyn Lieber, President and CEO of the Michigan Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports and the Michigan Fitness Foundation.