In 2004, the death rate for African Americans was higher than Whites for heart diseases, stroke, cancer, asthma, influenza and pneumonia, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and homicide.
So how do African Americans combat these disease?
SOLUTION: There's a new movement to help African Americans lose weight, and its called the 50 Million Pound Challenge. Led by Dr. Ian Smith, an author and diet expert, the initiative encourages and challenges overweight African Americans to take action.
According to Dr. Smith, obesity is the number one health crisis that African-Americans are dealing with. Obesity leads to heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and more.
The 50 Million Pound Challenge is a way for Blacks all around the country to unite, and shed those pounds together. "It’s about all of us coming together and looking out for each other as we work to take more control of our lives. It’s about taking the time to reach out and lock hands as we join forces to fight the very real risk that being overweight poses to ourselves, our families, and our community," he says.
50 million pound challenge
Smith is not by himself in leading this revolutionary movement. Several celebrities, including Patti Labelle, Steve Harvey Yolanda Adams, Omarion and Biz Markie, have joined him for support. State Farm Insurance has even stepped up to the plate as the title sponsor for the challenge.
The nationwide campaign will last for two years, and will kick off on April 7, 2007 on a 14-city tour as a part of the first phase. Interested ones can visit
http://www.50MillionPounds.com to register free, and take advantage of the Weight Tracker - an interactive tool to monitor one's progress.
About Dr. Ian Smith
Dr. Smith is best known as the physician on VH-1's Celebrity Fit Club. He is also the best-selling author of Extreme Fat Smash Diet and The Take-Control Diet. He recently appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show, and hosted a show on BET called Meet The Faith.
Dr. Smith is a Harvard graduate, but earned his doctorate degree from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. He currently resides in Manhattan, New York.
Resources:
50 Million Pound Challenge Web site -
http://www.50MillionPounds.com Dr. Ian Smith's Web Site -
http://www.DoctorIanSmith.com Dr. Ian Smith's Book Web Site -
http://www.FatSmashDiet.com Supporter Patti Labelle's Web Site -
http://www.PattisButterflies.com Title Sponsor State Farm's Web Site -
http://www.StateFarm.com Source: Blacknews.com
Posted By: Bernadette Smith, HHC
Monday, January 12th 2009 at 11:30AM
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