NASHVILLE (AP) - Gov. Bill Haslam has launched an initiative that aims to get communities involved in helping Tennesseans live healthier.

Healthier Tennessee Communities is a coordinated initiative supporting physical activity, health eating and tobacco abstinence at the local level.

"Changing people's personal habits is not easy, but we have to do it," Haslam told reporters after Wednesday's announcement. "In Tennessee, we're making a lot of progress, but we're still at the bottom when it comes to obesity rates, tobacco usage, physical activity."

In the case of obesity, in particular, the rate in Tennessee has risen to almost 34 percent from 10 percent in 1988.

Healthier Tennessee Communities is being piloted by Decatur, Dyer, Loudon, McMinn and Rhea counties, along with the cities of Franklin, Germantown, Kingsport and Tullahoma.

Requirements for other interested cities, towns, counties or neighborhoods include identifyi ng a person or group to lead the effort, creation of a local wellness council, and tracking and measuring outputs and accomplishments of the program.

For more information about Healthier Tennessee Communities, visit: www.healthiertn.com .