AKA Enters Partnership to Meet Weight Loss Challenge
Will work with State Farm and Dr. Ian Smith to make a difference
Alpha Kappa Alpha has taken The Chicago Defender's Million Pound Challenge to a greater level by encouraging members and friends to participate in the 50 Million Pound Challenge.
State Farm Insurance Company has teamed with Dr. Ian Smith, author of The Fat Smash Diet, in issuing a 50 million pound weight loss challenge to African-Americans.
The Challenge aims to reach its ambitious 50 million pound goal by making it easier for millions to get fit, give up the pounds and fight the epidemic of excess weight and weight-related illnesses that threaten half of all Americans. Today, 135 million Americans and 2 in 3 adults are overweight, double the rate of a few decades ago. Each week, 10,000 people die from heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer and other illnesses related to inactivity and poor diet.
The African-American community has been hit especially hard—80% of women and 67% of men face higher risk from excess weight, and life expectancy is five years below the U.S. average.
Since its launch in Washington, DC, this historic campaign by the African-American community has encouraged people to save lives by getting fit and losing weight. Thanks in part to strong support from the Sorority, The Challenge surpassed the one million pounds lost milestone on Nov. 12, 2007and now has more than 264,000 participants.
Alpha Kappa Alpha's participation in The Challenge meets the objectives of the Health Resource Management and Economics platform of its international E.S.P. program. Non-members can also join The Challenge by joining the AKA Challenge Champion team: AKA-ESP-International.
Click here for more information about the 50 Million Pound Challenge, including a variety of online resources, like a personal weight tracker, diet and exercise programs, online community support through the blog and Challenge Teams and weekly e-mail blasts from Dr. Ian with encouragement and helpful tips. Thanks to sponsor State Farm, all Challenge resources are FREE.