Singapore meets Somerville

Shape Up Somerville brings Singapore delegation to city

By George P. Hassett

Somerville's campaign to combat obesity and promote healthy living has received a lot of attention throughout the United States, including national print and television spotlights. But this month, Shape Up Somerville may have received its first international acclaim when seven senior officials from the Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, the Singapore Ministry of Health, and the Health Promotion Board of Singapore met with Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone to learn about the program.

Curtatone told the delegation about initiatives and programs in the area to increase walkability and environmental practices, including the Green Line and Community Path extensions.

Shape Up Somerville is a city wide campaign to increase daily physical activity and healthy eating through programming, physical infrastructure improvements, and policy work.  The campaign initially targeted first through third graders in the Somerville public schools, but now targets all segments of the community, according to the city's Web site.