LANSING – It’s hard to find the time to exercise and eat right, but the devastating impacts of obesity on people are avoidable with small lifestyle changes. On Wednesday, Jan. 23, the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) launched the new MI Healthier Tomorrow campaign aimed at helping people make the changes to impact their future today by asking Michigan residents to pledge to lose 10 percent of their body weight. 

After Gov. Snyder charged MDCH with reducing the state’s obesity rate, the department hosted an obesity summit in 2011.  Nearly 500 participants from around the state gathered to identify key priority strategies. One of the recommendations, which then became a strategy in the Michigan Health and Wellness 4 x 4 Plan, was development of one consistent statewide public awareness campaign to reduce obesity. MI Healthier Tomorrow is that statewide message and initiative. For more information on the program visit www.michigan.gov/healthymichigan.