On Sept. 12, 2005, the Healthy States Initiative hosted a panel discussion about state efforts to promote active lifestyles and healthy eating at CSG-WEST's 2005 Annual Meeting in Portland, Ore. The meeting was targeted at legislators in Western states.

The panel, moderated by Washington state Rep. Mary Skinner, included discussion about the background of the obesity epidemic, a look at how Washington state built a successful coalition to promote active lifestyles statewide and an examination of how local government community design decisions can enhance the ability of residents make healthy choices.

Available slide presentations:

• Click here for Marla Hollander's slide presentation about the obesity epidemic. Hollander is director of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Active Living Leadership.
• Click here for Victor Colman's slide presentation about Washington state's efforts to promote active lifestyles. Colman is a senior policy advisor for the Division of Community and Family Health at Washington's Department of Health.
• Click here for Rex Burkholder's slide presentation about community design decisions that promote more active living. Burkholder is a metro councilor for the Portland Metropolitan Area Regional Government in Oregon.

Click here to visit CSG-WEST.