Paramus Named 'New Jersey Healthy Town'

Paramus has been taking steps to promote active lifestyles as part of the state's Mayor's Wellness Campaign an initiative that has led to the borough become one of ten towns to be named a "New Jersey Healthy Town" for 2012.

Mayor Richard LaBarbiera joined the campaign which supports mayors as champions of commuity health which equips mayors and key leaders with tools to develop and implement active-living initiatives in their communities with the ultimate goal of improving health and reducing skyrocketing health care costs that come with the obesity problem in New Jersey.

During the Tuesday night meeting LaBarbiera credited Judy Migliaccio, the borough health officer, for bringing this program to the borough's attention.

"Like many Americans, I was shocked when I learned that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently concluded that the next generation of Americans might very well be the first in our lifetime to be LESS healthy than the generation that preceded it. If that is not a clarion call for action, nothing is," said LaBarbiera in a statement this week.

“I’m excited to continue working with the MWC to implement a comprehensive program of outreach, education and technical assistance activities to combat obesity and inactivity issues for all our residents,” LaBarbiera added. “By identifying existing programs and assessing our community needs, we can then shape our own plan for community health.”

For additional information, please go to www.mayorswellnesscampaign.org. or
 contact Health Officer/Director, Judith Migliaccio at 201-265-2100 Ext. 755.