DMU students, faculty, staff lose 996 pounds, donate 1182 food, care items to DMARC

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DMARC & DMU Wellness team with some of the items to donate.

DES MOINES, IA (04/26/2010)(readMedia)-- A recent 10-week health initiative at Des Moines University was a huge success. "Dump Your Plump" encouraged five workouts a week and asked participants to set a weight loss or maintenance goal. Twenty-three teams of six to 10 people participated and lost a grand total of 996.2 pounds.

"There isn't another group in Des Moines more appropriate to take the lead on this health movement," said Tim Lane from the Iowa Department of Public Health during his keynote at the Dump Your Plump (DYP) finale celebration.

To further round out the program's success, participants were asked to bring non-perishable food items throughout the 10 weeks as part of an on-going relationship with the Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) food pantries. The "Your Loss is Someone Else's Gain" food drive culminated at the DYP finale with 1182 food and personal care items.

"We wanted to encourage an overall healthful attitude and giving to others fit right in as a mental and spiritual wellness component," explained Shelby Herrick, DYP organizer.

For more information about DMU, visit www.dmu.edu. To learn more about the DMARC food pantries, visit www.dmreligious.org.

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Des Moines University is the only private medical school in Iowa, offering graduate-level, professional degree programs in osteopathic medicine, podiatric medicine, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, anatomy, biomedical sciences, health care administration and public health. Founded in 1898, the institution offers superior academics in a collaborative environment. DMU students' pass rate on national examinations and board certifications is consistently higher than the national average and the rates at similar institutions.

CAPTIONS:

photo 1: (from left) Elisabeth Ballstadt, DMARC's Emergency Food Pantry director, Bob Dolan, Americorp Vista with DMARC, Shannon Kalsem, DMU Wellness Center manager, Joy Schiller, DMU's director of wellness, Nicole Frangopol, a wellness assistant at DMU and DYP Organizer Shelby Herrick, a DMU wellness specialist.

photo 2: Tim Lane from the Iowa Department of Public Health congratulated the DMU crowd for healthful behaviors and encouraged them to keep up the good work.