First Lady Jenny Sanford to serve as Honorary Chair of Healthy Charleston Challenge

Medical University of SC fitness and weight loss program promotes healthy lifestyle changes

COLUMBIA, SC (07/25/2008)(readMedia)-- First Lady Jenny Sanford will serve as Honorary Chair of the Healthy Charleston Challenge hosted by the Medical University of South Carolina's Harper Student Wellness Center. This is a twelve-week weight loss program designed to increase physical activity and provide skills, professional guidance, and accountability for developing healthy lifestyle habits. A goal of the Healthy Charleston Challenge is to promote wellness and prevent chronic disease in South Carolina.

The 2nd Healthy Charleston Challenge begins September 11, 2008. This lifestyle education program is a weight loss and activity competition with participants divided into teams of seven. Each team has a personal trainer and a dietitian to help achieve permanent lifestyle changes. There are also weekly education sessions with the program physician and psychologist.

The first Healthy Charleston Challenge was this past January-March 2008. 80 people participated and lost a total of 1,500.6 pounds. 100% of participants experienced healthy lifestyle changes and weight loss. 53% of the participants in the maintenance phase have lost more that six additional pounds 16 weeks after the program. 32% have lost more than ten additional pounds. 90% continue to lose and or maintain the program weight loss. 80% have lost additional % of body fat. Their blood lipid profile continues to improve as well.

Applications for the September-November Healthy Charleston Challenge are available at www.musc.edu/hsc. Participants should be 25+ pounds overweight and in need of permanently changing lifestyle habits for decreased risk of chronic disease.

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The Healthy SC Challenge is an outcome-based, cooperative effort aimed at encouraging individuals, communities and organizations across the state to show shared responsibility in developing innovative ways to improve the health of South Carolina's citizens. For more information about the Healthy SC Challenge, please visit www.healthysc.gov, or call 803-737-4772.