Oklahoma City's Challenge

The only times Oklahoma City is mentioned in the context of nutrition and fitness is when it tops lists of unhealthiest, most overweight, least fit, and top fast food spending cities.

In 2007, Fortune declared it the "fast-food capital of America."

Mayor Mick Cornett saw all these developments as an opportunity and created the "This City is Going on a Diet" program.

The goal is to have Oklahoma City residents lose a collective 1,000,000 pounds between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2008.

This figure is recorded and monitored by the program's official website, where people register and track their weight loss.

The website offers links to several weight loss programs and local fitness centers and also informs visitors of upcoming walks and marathons.

Two thumbs up for offering behavioral modification resources (ranging from Overeaters Anonymous to smoking cessation programs) and recognizing that a healthy lifestyle entails more than simply the foods we choose to put in our mouths.

I do wish, however, that the nutrition resources offered more than links to weight-loss companies.

When it comes to weight management, nutrition education and literacy is crucial. How about a section on how to read labels and identify whole grains, for instance?

The wordsmith in me isn't too content with the word "diet" being used in this program.

It makes me think of a short-term thing people go "on", only to then go "off" on. It doesn't fully communicate the concept of integrating healthier life-long habits.

I'll chalk it up to needing a cute catchphrase, since the website is responsible and does not advocate crash diets or insane regimens.

By the way, be sure to take a look at this map of obesity in the United States over the past two decades. Scary!