COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, January 11, 2016

MOTION NO.10

MOTION: Councillor M. Devine

That this Council support and promote the "Million Pound Challenge" that will positively impact on the County's and Country's overall health.

REPORT:

The challenge is inspired by an initiative from Oklahoma where the Mayor decided to take action in 2007 after a fitness magazine ranked his city as one of America’s most obese places to live.  The Mayor announced that the city was “going on a diet”.  Admitting that he was obese himself, he challenged the citizens of Oklahoma to join him on a weight loss programme to collectively lose one million pounds.  The Mayor lost three stone and the city joined him with more than 50,000 citizens registering to track their weight.  Local restaurants and gyms were encouraged to support the campaign through healthy menu choices and discounts.  Oklahoma City was redesigned to make it more ‘walkable’.  Five years later, the city hit its million pound weight loss goal and landed a spot on America’s Top 10 fittest cities.

Operation Transformation, which is promoted in the County through the Council's Sports Partnerships, is challenging the people of Ireland to go one better by losing that million pounds in just 12 months.  The challenge is based on a prediction that Ireland is on course to become the fattest country in Europe with nearly two-thirds of the population overweight or obese.

Supported by Healthy Ireland, the Operation Transformation Million Pound Challenge begins on Wednesday, January 6th, 2016.  Registration will open during the first episode of Operation Transformation.  Individuals, groups of friends, families and companies will be able to log on to the Operation Transformation website - rte.ie/ot - to sign up for challenge and track their weight loss each week.   Throughout the campaign, Operation Transformation will be giving tips on how to make the small changes in lifestyle that will help build toward that ultimate million pound goal.

From a Council perspective the interdepartmental group that is being established in early 2016 will develop a programme of work / actions under the Health & Wellbeing Theme.  This programme will be promoted by this group in conjunction with the Healthy County Steering Group.  If the motion is passed it will be referred to the Steering Group.