By JOHN NORTH

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“I see our health director and the publisher of the Asheville Citizen-Times are here, so we can begin,” Dr. Dave Gardner said with a laugh as he opened “The Weight of the Nation” event Jan. 15 at UNC Asheville’s Sherrill Center.

Nearly a full-house of about 220 people — with many standing — attended the program in the Mountain View Room., according to event oganizers.

On a more serious note, Gardner added, “The exciting thing about this even is that it brings together many people from many areas of Asheville ... on a common challenge — obesity.”

In introducing Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy, the keynote speaker, Gardner said, “We’re going to start this evening with one of the leaders of this community who really gets it. We are blessed ... We are fortunate to have a mayor of this community who understands health. She takes risks.”

Bellamy began by noting that her message would be a tribute to Mark Fenton, who she praised as “a visionary. She noted that Fenton “came to our community” and “did a walking analysis of our city...” that raised many much-needed issues to make Asheville — especially downtown — more pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly.

“I’m going to copy him tonight ... I wouldn’t have a roomful of people, otherwise, who care about health and fitness.”

After a pause, the mayor asked, “So why am I really here tonight? Because my daughter (Imani) will be eight (years old) this year. In my family, women died from health problems, including diabetes and other overweight-related issues.

Bellamy said her concern is “not only my Imani, but every other Imani — every little girl — in the community,” regarding the obesity epidemic.

“What does the CDC (Center for Disease Control) say about our weight?” Bellamy asked, rhetorically. 

The CDC says that “17 percent of our children ages 2 to 19 are obese,” she said. On a similar dire note, the mayor asserted, “In North Carolina, we went from a light color (on the chart) to the darkest color — meaning most obese — in the last 20 years.”

Specifically, Bellamy alluded to a Center for Disease Control and Prevention study showing that a third of U.S. adults are obese, with North Carolina ranked as the 14th-most obese state.. 

Bellamy praised First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” movement, which seeks to solve America’s childhood obesity epidemic within a generation, drawing applause from the crowd.

With a laugh, the mayor said she recently visited Fairview Elementary School “and I had on three-inch heels — and the kids wanted me to dance” and run around with them, which she did without hurting herself because she felt it was important that she encourage them.

Bellamy said area schools need to be offering physical education classes because studies show that “those kids who are active and alert do better in class.”

She added, emphatically, “We’re going to make sure, as a city, that we have access to healthy food” as a way to fight obesity.

“Anyone who wants to open a tailgate market, you can do it without a lot of red tape” in Asheville, Bellamy said, prompting applause from the audience.

“In Buncombe County, 62.6 percent of adults are considered overweight and, of those, 27.5 percent are considered obese... This is almost double the national number of 35 percent,” the mayor lamented. What’s more, she said “44 percent of our (Buncombe) children are considered overweight or obese.”

 Bellamy also contended that statistics show “only one in 10 Buncombe County residents is eating enough fruits and vegetables,” as per CDC recommendatons.

 To encourage healthy exercise habits, the mayor noted that she herself has participated in several Chamber Challenge footraces, including running twice with now state Rep. Nathan Ramsey. (Bellamy is a Democrat and Ramsey, a Republican, but they are nonetheless friends.)

 In addition, Bellamy said she ran the Chamber Challenge twice with David Gantt, chairman of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, “and then I retired” from foot races. “I was smaller then,” she added with a smile.

Among local solutions to the obesity problem, the mayor cited the Chamber Challenge, the Citizen-Times Half Marathon, the Arc of Buncombe health and wellness program and the many programs hosted by the YMCA and YWCA.

She said opportunities exist with “people who don’t see themselves as part of the problem” and “people who are too busy.”

“How do we reach people?” Bellamy asked, rhetorically. “Doctors who see patients who are overweight should ask patients to develop a plan and develop behaviors to achieve it.”

In addition, Belamy suggested the following:

• Those who are overweight or obese should find friends who will help them use the “TTTT” method — “take time to talk.”

• “Take 10” — 10 minutes to walk daily, or at least three times per week.

• Talk to one’s health-care provider to see what kind of benefits it offers for weight loss.

• Use the city’s free greenways system, which she said is “over 4.3 miles now.” The crowd applauded her mention of the greenways.

Bellamy told about Asheville resident Katrina Harrison, who she said is “in process” in losing weight. She told the event attendees that her homework assignment for them is to send Harrison an email of encouragement.

“Too often, we’re not encouraging people” in their weight-loss efforts, the mayor said. She quoted Harrison as saying that, previously, “I’d eat when I’d get depressed. Now I walk.” Bellamy added that Harrison now is a member of Rush Fitness, too.

“It’s changing her outlook. It’s a lifestyle, lifetime commitment — it’s forever,” Bellamy said of Harrison’s efforts. 

Returning to the mayor’s concern about her daughter, she said, “Again, my Imanti — I’m keeping her active and busy. I’m making sure she’s not watching TV too much or spending too much time working on the computer.”

Bellamy added that “it takes a village to raise a child... I’m holding you (the audience at the UNCA event) responsible as my villagers,” she said with a grin. 

A portion of the HBO documentary, “The Weight of the Nation” was screened at the UNCA event. It detailed efforts by Nashville, Tenn., to greatly expand its walking and bicycling areas, prompting Bellamy afterward to challenge the crowd by saying, “So, we can’t be outdone by Nashville, Tennessee.”

More seriously, the mayor said, “They’ve done some great things to get in shape” in Nashville. In closing, Bellamy praised “all who organized the event and those in attendance. Her speech was greeted with sustained applause.

The other featured speaker, Bryan Messing, center director for the Woodfin YMCA, began his talk by touting his challenge to Asheville-area residents who are overweight or obese through a “5-2-1-Almost None” program.

The aforementioned slogan refers to the goal of each individual to consume five servings of vegetables and fruits a day, no more than two hours per day of leisure time in front of a television of computer screen, at least an hour of physical activity or play and almost no sugary drinks.

“So who would agree with me that what we saw in ‘The Weight of the Nation’ is alarming — the obesity epidemic” across the nation.

“I’m confident that all of us will help move the healthy-living needle in our community by implementing the ‘5-2-1 Almost None!’ program,” Messing said.

The problem “cannot be solved individually. Let’s come together as a neighborhood, as a city and as a region and make this a priority.”

Regarding the “5-2-1-Almost None” message, Gibbie Harris, Buncombe health director, said, “It’s a simple message that kids can latch onto ... that parents can latch onto ... and people can start focusing their work on those four initiatives.”

After the regular program, the audience shifted into breakout sessions led by local high school students from Youth Empowered Solutions and other community members.

The various sessions featured specific challenges that are faced in five different areas, including health care, individuals and families, faith communities, schools and workplaces. Participants were allowed to choose three of the five choice to attend.

Among the groups involved in hosting the event were the YMCA, the United Waym Chamber of Commerce and Youth Empowered Solutions, the latter of which works to get young people involved in community change.