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Have You Signed Up for The 50 Million Pound Challenge Yet?

Posted on: Tuesday, 21 August 2007, 20:10 CDT

MILWAUKEE, Aug. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Vowing to "give up the pounds, not the fight," Dr. Ian Smith -- physician, author of the NY Times #1 best-seller Extreme Fat Smash Diet and VH1 Celebrity Fit Club expert-has created The 50 Million Pound Challenge. Supported by a host of African-American leaders & sponsored by State Farm(R), The Challenge is coming to Milwaukee Aug. 25 for a free special event on the 11th stop of its 14-city U.S. tour to help people take control of their health & take up the fight against weight-related illnesses. One of the most far-reaching initiatives of its kind, The Challenge is an historic campaign & commitment by the African-American community rallying people across the U.S. to get fit & lose weight -- and ultimately live longer, look & feel great. In just over 4 months since its April 7 launch, 202,124 people have joined at 50millionpounds.com and lost 481,857 total pounds.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070821/AQTU147)

In Milwaukee, a star-studded cast will join Dr. Ian in Washington Park on Saturday, August 25 from 12-4 p.m. (CDT) for a free afternoon of live music, fitness & fun expected to draw thousands. Appearing will be Grammy-nominated R&B singer Angie Stone, Grammy-winning singing sensation 112, rapper Slick Rick, R&B singer Shirley Murdock, Milwaukee Bucks star NBA point guard Maurice Williams & renowned DJ Biz Markie. Attendees can get free health screenings, learn more about the free Challenge fitness tips & tools, sign up online and join Dr. Ian on a Challenge walk. They can also get free eshots photos to keep as "before" shots to show their progress "after" reaching their weight-loss goal-and help motivate them to keep the weight off.

Study Shows Close Friends & Family Gain Weight Together, But Can Also Lose it Together

The Challenge aims to reach its ambitious goal by bringing people together and making it easier for millions to get fit, lose weight and turn back the epidemic of excess weight and deadly weight-related diseases that threaten half of all Americans. The power of the support network The Challenge is building got some support of it's own from a recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine. The study found that close friends and family set a powerful example for each other-they tend to gain weight together, but also lose weight together. The need to set more positive examples was never clearer.

Each week 10,000 people die from illnesses related to inactivity & diet. Today, 135 million Americans and 2/3rds of U.S. adults are overweight-double the rate a few decades ago-making their lifestyle choices a matter of life & death. The African-American community has been especially hard hit, losing too many loved ones to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer and related illnesses. Among African Americans, 80% of women and 67% of men face higher risk of deadly illnesses from excess weight.

"This is an historic opportunity to come together, take control of our health and save lives," said Dr. Ian, author of the NY Times #1 best-seller Extreme Fat Smash Diet. "The groundswell of support is remarkable. More than 200,000 people have joined & lost 480,000 pounds. Milwaukee can help us pass the half million pound mark! What began as a simple challenge has become a commitment spreading across the entire community. Losing weight & getting in shape has never been easier, or more important. Too many are dying from preventable illnesses. The Challenge encourages and empowers people to get fit and give up the pounds that have frustrated so many for so long. It helps us take a giant leap forward towards leading longer, healthier lives."

To mobilize support & fight back, the campaign is hosting events April-Nov. in 14 cities: DC, Baltimore, Miami, Memphis, Cleveland, Houston, Detroit, Atlanta, St. Louis, Chicago, Milwaukee, New York, Oakland & New Orleans. More than 50 leaders & celebrities from the African-American community have signed on as champions, as have national civic & health organizations including the American Diabetes Association, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Inc., 100 Black Men of America Inc., National Urban League, American Council on Exercise, and Institute for the Advancement of Multicultural & Minority Medicine.

"We're coming to Milwaukee to help people make healthier lifestyle choices & give up the pounds, not the fight," said Dr. Ian. "We gained the weight together; we can take it off together. Working together, we can reverse these deadly trends, one small step at a time. Take The Challenge. It's free. It's fun. The reward is worth the weight-it can save your life, and you'll look & feel great!"

Challenge supporter & Grammy-nominated R&B star Angie Stone said, "Too many people are dying when there's so much living to do. We need to take better care of our health and stop disrespecting our bodies. We should love and respect ourselves as much as we do others. The Challenge is helping us look out for our health and be strong for each other. It's helping us make healthier food & fitness choices and enjoy a longer life. Giving up the pounds and staying fit isn't easy. But The Challenge is making it a lot easier-and more fun! What's important is for people to get moving-moving their feet, moving to the beat, moving to healthier habits in what we eat. If we move forward together, there's nothing we can't accomplish."

Signing up for The Challenge is easy, free and anyone can join at 50millionpounds.com, a go-to resource & online community where participants can see the total pounds lost by everyone taking The Challenge. It offers free tips & tools making it easier for people to get fit and reach their healthy weight-there's even a private personal weight tracker to measure your progress. Free Challenge kits are available, with CD & brochure from Dr. Ian with menu & fitness advice and a pedometer to measure steps.

About The 50 Million Pound Challenge

Dr. Ian Smith's 50 Million Pound Challenge, sponsored by State Farm(R), is a campaign supported & endorsed in name & deed by leaders across the African-American community and national civic & health organizations. The Challenge is an historic opportunity & commitment by the African-American community to come together & help people take control of their health by getting fit, losing excess weight & turning back the deadly toll of weight-related diseases that threatens nearly half of Americans & hits the African-American community especially hard.

About Dr. Ian Smith

Dr. Ian is a diet expert on VH1's Celebrity Fit Club & author of the NY Times #1 best-seller Fat Smash Diet & Extreme Fat Smash Diet, and other works of fiction & non-fiction. He hosts his own TV & radio shows, BET's Meet the Faith & HealthWatch on American Urban Radio Network. Dr. Ian is a contributor to The View & Men's Health Magazine. He has filed reports & written for NBC Nightly News, Today Show, Essence, Ebony, People, Cosmopolitan & U. of

Chicago's Medicine on the Midway. He's a new dad and lives with his family in Chicago.

About State Farm

State Farm(R) insures more cars than any other insurer in North America and is the leading U.S. home insurer. State Farm's 17,000 agents and 68,000 employees serve over 75 million auto, fire, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and more than 1.7 million bank accounts. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 31 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit statefarm.com(R) or in Canada statefarm.ca(R).

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070821/AQTU147AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

State Farm

CONTACT: Milwaukee-area media, Meryl Moss, +1-203-226-0199,meryl@mediamuscle.com; or National media, Marc Smrikarov, +1-212-486-7070,cell, +1-917-595-9481, marcs@brownlloydjames.com, both for State Farm; orOther media & inquiries, Mia Jazo-Harris of State Farm, +1-309-766-5242, cell,+1-309-533-2011, mia.jazo-harris.sfdx@statefarm.com

Web site: http://www.statefarm.com/http://www.50millionpounds.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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