Boston program promotes exercise, better nutrition

Several Massachusetts cities and towns, in many cases with assistance from the state’s Mass in Motion program, are instituting policies and programs that are helping to increase physical activity and improve nutrition among residents.

In April, Boston launched a multifaceted initiative, Boston Moves For Health, with an ambitious goal: to help city residents collectively shed 1 million pounds and move (by walking and other forms of exercise) the equivalent of 10 million miles.

Residents can set health goals and record their own progress, as well as the progress of the city as a whole, online at www.bostonmovesforhealth.org. As of late September, participants had lost nearly 12,000 pounds and had walked, run or biked more than 1.8 million miles.

Boston is also promoting better eating habits. According to city officials, only 26 percent of Boston adults and 19 percent of its high school students eat the recommended five or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day.

To boost fruit and vegetable consumption, the city has partnered with 21 of its farmers markets to accept “Bounty Bucks,” which enables low-income residents to use their Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program cards to buy fresh produce. Boston has provided the farmers markets with electronic benefit transfer (EBT) terminals to process SNAP payments.

The city also has also expanded the number of community garden plots available to residents.

Vending machines in school cafeterias and city buildings now feature healthier options as well.

To help residents understand the nutritional advantages and disadvantages of different beverages, Boston has devised a brochure using a traffic-signal analogy: “green” beverages are the healthiest, “yellow” beverages are best suited for only occasional consumption, and “red” beverages should be avoided. (More information is available at www.bphc.org/chronicdisease.)

To help achieve its 10 million mile goal, Boston has expanded its Hubway shared bicycle program both within the city and to neighboring municipalities. Hubway, which offers low-cost, short-term bicycle rentals, provides an exercise option that does not require one to own a bike.

Bike riders are also benefiting from the city’s expanded number of designated bike lanes, which enhance bicycle safety.

The Boston Public Health Commission’s NeighborWalk program provides small grants to local nonprofits to help them organize and promote walks for residents. These walks can be done on one’s own or with a group led by a coordinator.

Over the past summer, free or low-cost outdoor fitness classes were provided at a variety of locations, including City Hall Plaza.

For more information about Boston’s program, visit www.bostonmovesforhealth.org.