Ten thousand Americans die every week from preventable illness-such as high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer-that are related to poor diet and inactivity.
Hit particularly hard is African-America community, where 80% of women and 67% of men need to lose 10 pounds or more to reach their healthy weight and reduce their risk of life threatening diseases.
Vowing to "Give up the pounds, not the fight," Dr. Ian Smith, physician, journalist, medical/diet expert on VH1's 'Celebrity Fit Club' and host of BET's 'Meet the Faith' is teaming up with State Farm#174; and a remarkable group of African-American leaders and champions to launch The 50 Million Pound Challenge, an unprecedented national campaign and historic commitment by the African-American community to join hands and help people take control of their health by losing weight and staying fit.
It aims to fight back against the epidemic of excess weight and related deadly diseases that threatens half of all Americans today and is hitting the African-American community especially hard-taking the lives of too many loved ones from heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer and other illnesses.
The challenge kicks off in Washington D.C. on April 7 with special guests like Steve Harvey and Patti Labelle. To find out more just log onto www.50millionpounds.com/
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