Oklahoma City is getting larger.
And it’s no wonder.
It’s the capital of a state that has an official state meal consisting of heavy duty fattening foods such as cornbread, chicken fried steak, sausage and gravy, and pecan pie.
And if that’s not enough, Oklahoma City also has the dubious honor of being the ‘Fast Food Capital of America.’
Now the mayor of Oklahoma City is saying enough is enough. Concerned that the city ranked 15th in the 2007 Men’s Fitness survey of America’s fattest cities, Mayor Mick Cornett is challenging the residents of Oklahoma City to loss 1 million pounds in a year.
It’s time, he says, for the city to go on a diet.
Mayor Cornett believes his city is up to the challenge. Residents are invited to sign up and track their weight loss at OKC Million, the official city diet website. So far, more than 6,000 have registered since December 31, 2007 and have had a combined weight loss of over 1300 pounds.
I guess if this doesn’t work, Mayor Cornett can always offer money for pounds. That’s what the mayor of a small Italian town did last year. Concerned about the heaviness of his town, Mayor Gianluca Buonanno offered financial incentives to lose weight.
(photo credit)
“…Townsmen would receive 50 euros (about $74) if they lost 9 pounds in a month; townswomen would get that same amount for shedding 7 pounds. What’s more, if participants managed to keep the weight off for five solid months, they each stood to gain an additional 200 euros ($295).”
Interesting idea…
By the way, if you’re interested in where your city stands in the weight stakes, read the recent Forbes.com article America’s Most Obese Cities
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