Governor calls for healthier lifestyles

"Designing Healthy Communities, Raising Healthy Kids" is the theme of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's challenge for Californians to take charge of their health by eating right and being physically active.

"We are facing an epidemic of obesity that threatens the public health of California and the rest of the nation," said Sandra Shewry, director of the California Department of Health Services. "We must improve our children's nutrition and level of physical activity if we are going to reverse this trend."

Californians are urged to complete the Governor's Challenge by signing up online at www.CalGovCouncil.org and logging in daily to track physical activity for at least four weeks.

Any Californian who completes the challenge will earn a reward from the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.

More than half of California adults are currently overweight or obese, and 38 percent of California children ages 9 to 11 are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight.

This story provided by StatePoint Media.