Apparently someone spent a lot of time moving on Wednesday.

Just 24 hours after York officials launched a weight-loss tool on the city's website, the "Let's Move" page was reporting its participants had already lost 164 pounds.

By any measure, that's a good start for the city's self-imposed goal of losing 5,000 pounds by September 2013.

Backed by the Codorus Creek and the city's chunk of the York County Heritage Rail Trail, Mayor Kim Bracey announced the new program at a press conference Wednesday.

Faced with some troubling obesity statistics, York needs to lose some weight, Bracey said.

Recent health surveys have found that 66 percent of Yorkers are overweight and obese.

Bracey said she's not sure why Yorkers have packed on so many pounds, but "it's time" to do something about it.

"I could stand to lose a pound or two," she confessed. "It's a hard task, but we're being more and more conscious of it. Everything in moderation."

York City had already joined Michelle Obama's Let's Move initiative, but Bracey said she decided about six weeks ago that "I need to make this more specific to the city of York."

So, Bracey directed her staff to build a page on the city's website, www.yorkcity.org, dedicated to losing weight.

Anyone can register. The site allows users to log exercise time and track progress toward a weight-loss goal.

Programs like these are especially important for kids, Bracey said.

"Stay active," she advised. "Get off the couch from the video games."

- Erin James may also be reached at ejames@yorkdispatch.com.