Launched by the Massachusetts Department of Health, Mass in Motion (MiM) is a multi-funder, comprehensive statewide obesity prevention initiative that focuses on healthy eating and physical activity. MiM features a multi-faceted approach that includes regulations to promote healthy eating and physical activity, grants to cities and towns to implement policy and systems change strategies to address overweight and obesity, a workplace wellness initiative, and a coordinated statewide communications campaign including a website to provide Massachusetts' residents with culturally appropriate information.

A major component of the initiative is the Mass in Motion Municipal Wellness and Leadership Program. Managed by HRiA, this program is designed to build capacity at the municipal level to create a sustained approach to active living and healthy eating. Support for the program comes from funds from MDPH, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation, The Boston Foundation, the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation, the Metrowest Community Health Care Foundation, and the Tufts Health Plan Foundation.

This public-private partnership has distributed over $1.3 million in funding to eleven municipalities to plan, assess, initiate and/or expand the implementation of policy, environmental and/or system approaches that support healthy eating and active living. Under the leadership of city or town management, municipalities will create or expand upon existing community partnerships to promote thoughtful, innovative ways to combine policy, systems, and environmental change strategies for sustainable obesity prevention interventions.

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