August 17, 2007

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The holiday season is coming up. A time of good food, family celebrations, holiday parties. A time for weight gain, too, which is often followed by the traditional scramble to lose pounds and get fit as the new year rolls around. Sound familiar?

“It’s a never-ending cycle,” says Jamy Ard, M.D., director of UAB’s EatRight Weight Management Services. “Many of us gain weight at the end of the year, try to lose it in the beginning of the next and by the time we get to the following autumn, we’re right back where we started. We’ve lost our enthusiasm and drive….but we’ve probably not lost any weight.”

‘Lose 25 by the 25th EatRight Health Challenge’ is a new project of UAB’s EatRight program that stands that traditional model on its head. The challenge calls for participants to lose weight, and/or reduce other indicators of health risk, between now and Christmas.

“The idea is to improve your health now…this fall,” said Ard. “What better gift to give yourself this holiday season than a new outlook on life and a new commitment to a healthy lifestyle.”

‘Lose 25 by the 25th’ isn’t just about weight loss. Participants in the challenge will earn points for weight loss but will also earn points for reductions in other health indicators, such as blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and waist circumference. For every 25 total points accumulated, the participant gets one chance at a drawing for a grand prize of $250.

Participants can join the challenge by joining any of the EatRight programs by Sept. 28, EatRight Lifestyle, EatRight OPTIFAST, EatRight Worksite or EatRight Maintenance.

The EatRight program will offer special cooking demonstrations featuring local chefs beginning in Sept. to help participants learn to prepare healthier foods. The program will also sponsor EatRight Walking Breaks, 15 minute walks held three times a week on the UAB campus.

For more information on EatRight and the Lose 25 by the 25th Challenge, call 205-934-7053 or go to www.uab.edu/eatright.