Dr. Ian Smith Celebrates 1 million pound mark of 50 Million Pound Challenge

The following is a press release for Dr. Ian Smith's 50 million pound challenge.  I have been a fan of Dr. Ian since his days as a contributor to Men's Health magazine.  I continue to admire his work on VH1's Celebrity Fit Club. 

New York City, Nov. 7, 2007 – Dr. Ian Smith's 50 Million Pound Challenge has reached the one million pound milestone.  Since its launch in Washington, DC on April 7, the historic campaign by the African-American community has encouraged people to save lives by getting fit and losing weight.  So far, more than 250,000 people have signed up at 50millionpounds.com and contributed to the early success of the initiative.

"We are so proud of the individual accomplishments that have resulted in us reaching this important early goal.  On November 15, I want us to celebrate taking off our first million pounds and all the participants who made it happen.  I hope people all across the country will join me in lighting a candle to celebrate the million and to signify our commitment and hope," said Dr. Ian Smith, best-selling author and diet expert on VH1's Celebrity Fit Club. 

"I continue to challenge the community to join us in feeling like a million by joining our campaign to lead healthier, happier and longer lives.  If people in each of the 50 states would band together and commit to collectively losing a million pounds per state, we'll be able to reach our goal. I look forward to that day when we'll be able to celebrate saving the many lives that would otherwise have been lost to the obesity epidemic and other excess weight-related health concerns."

• Dr. Ian encourages people all across the country to acknowledge the need to take control of their health by rallying on November 15 in celebration and commitment to The Challenge.  The celebration and call to action include:

• At 11:30 a.m. at the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building, on 125th Street in Harlem, Dr. Ian will lead a ceremony marking the million.  Challenge and community leaders will join Dr. Ian to commemoratively tip the scales and in lighting a commitment candle.

• The NYC ceremony will be part of a national virtual celebration at 50millionpounds.com.  People are encouraged to visit the site and post photographs and stories of success and commitment.

• At 1 p.m., Dr. Ian will be in the New York City Council Chambers as the guest of NYC City Council member and Challenge Champion, Leroy Comrie.  He will accept on behalf of The Challenge a city proclamation of support. 

• Challenge Teams and individual participants are encouraged to gather together on the 15th and stage team and personal celebrations of the million.  If they want to invite others to join them, they can post their local celebration plans on blog at http://blog.50millionpounds.com/  Challengers are also encouraged to post their own candle-lighting photographs or video on Flicker or YouTube.

• To learn more, access the free Challenge materials, and register to start making your individual contribution to achieving the goal and improving your health, go to 50milllionpounds.com.

"It is really gratifying to reach the first million in seven months," Dr. Ian said. "The 14-city kick-off tour is bringing much needed attention to the issue.  The Challenge will continue to spread the word and encourage people to make healthier lifestyle choices and give up the pounds, not the fight.  Collectively, we can reverse deadly weight-related trends, one small step at a time. Take The Challenge. It's free, thanks to sponsor State Farm®. It's fun. And, the reward is worth the weight-it can save your life!"

The Challenge demonstrates the findings of a recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine which showed that close friends and family set a powerful example for each other – they tend to gain, but also to lose weight together. 

The national initiative aims to reach its 50 million pound goal by making it easier for millions to team up and lose weight to fight the epidemic of weight-related health issues threatening half of all Americans. The African-American community has been especially hard hit: 80% of women and 67% of men face higher risk of illnesses related to diet and inactivity like heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some forms of cancer. 

To lead the fight back, The Challenge is supported by individual community leaders and national civic and health organizations, including the American Diabetes Association, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Inc., 100 Black Men of America Inc., the National Urban League, the American Council on Exercise and the Institute for the Advancement of Multicultural and Minority Medicine.