Eureka Springs is a model for battling childhood obesity

EUREKA SPRINGS -- Mayor Dani Joy has been chosen as one of 30 municipal leaders in the country to attend a national conference on childhood obesity being sponsored by the federal government Dec. 9 through 11 in New Orleans.

Joy said the federal government is bearing the entire cost of her attending the conference. She was invited because of the unique things being done in the Eureka Springs area to battle childhood obesity.

"This is a big honor for us," Joy said. "We are so small I really didn't think they would choose Eureka Springs. But we have done a lot here to combat childhood obesity."

Eureka Springs Schools have removed soda pop machines from schools, replacing them with healthier choices, and restructured the school lunch program to improve its quality. The city is encouraging exercise with venues like the skate park, a trail system in town and hiking trails at Lake Leatherwood City Park and Black Bass Lake.

Joy said the purpose of the conference in New Orleans is to explore innovative ways government entities can coordinate with schools to address childhood obesity.

"We need to get out children outside and moving," Joy said. "This is particularly important in our region because childhood obesity if so prevalent in the South."