Fat City Slimming Down

Is local government the new Weight Watchers?

If the mayor of Oklahoma City has any say, his citizens may be losing some of their girth. According to the Chicago Times, mayor Mick Cornett decided he was tired of leading America's unofficial Fat City, and has challenged his 1.1 million constituents to lose a collective 1 million pounds.

The initiative might not benefit him come reelection time, but he wants to be a weight-loss leader. Cornett told the paper, "No city has ever been placed on a diet by the mayor."

Oklahoma City has the ninth highest rate of obesity in the nation, and last year Fortune magazine crowned the city the fast food capital of America. Cornett told the paper: "Life in Oklahoma City is built around the automobile. The business model for a fast-food restaurant works really well here because you can get the land cheap."

Cornett set up a Web site, thiscityisgoingonadiet.com, featuring links to information about nutrition, exercise and weight loss, and as of Sunday, about 14,500 people had signed up on the Web site and collectively had reported shedding just over 26,000 pounds. Just 375 tons to go.

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