Today marks the start of National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. This month serves as a reminder that obesity is still a complex and serious issue facing our country, and it requires hard work from both the private and public sector to yield real results.  And when it comes to childhood obesity we are constantly working on both prevention and ways we can have a positive impact on children who are the future of our country.

One way beverage companies are doing their part is through the American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America’s (ABFHA) partnership with the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Since 2012, grants have been awarded through the Childhood Obesity Prevention Awards program to mayors across the country who are going above and beyond in their efforts to address childhood obesity in their communities.

The 2016 first place cities included New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu for his Fit Nola program and Fontana, Calif., Mayor Acquanetta Warren’s Healthy Kids for a Healthy Fontana. Both these programs focus on bringing the children of these communities the resources they need to achieve a balanced lifestyle and through these grants they will be able to continue to do so.

It is through these partnerships that we can have a real and lasting impact on childhood obesity. Click here to learn more about the Childhood Obesity Prevention awards.