It’s a fact that overweight men and women are at greater risk of developing heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis and some cancers. These expensive conditions to treat, help to drive up health care premiums. Each year obesity results in more than 300,000 lost lives. It accounts for as much as $1,500 annually in excess medical costs per person, and a national cost of $117 billion, according to current estimates.

While for many, the roots of obesity are easily found, eating too much of the wrong kinds of foods and insufficient physical activity, losing weight can be hard, lonely and tedious.

What if it could be fun, something to do together with fellow-workers, church or organizational members or friends?

Now it can. The Manufacturers Association has teamed up with a number of other local organizations (including ECDA) to offer, Lighten-up! Erie: A Community Weight Loss Challenge. The program is a fun, friendly, motivating and energizing TEAM EXPERIENCE.

Ten- or five-member teams from area organizations will vie for prizes as they learn practical, effective tools and strategies to help them improve their day-to-day eating and exercise habits for a lifetime.

Topics will include the how-to’s of staying motivated, nutritious eating (versus special diets that fail), effective exercise plans, managing stress, and overcoming emotional overeating. Participants will also learn how to end the self-sabotaging behaviors and repeated patterns that make change difficult!

Over 300 men and women participated in the first Lighten-Up! ERIE, representing a wide variety of for-profit, and non-profit businesses and community organizations in Northwest PA.

“Lighten-Up! ERIE has opened up my eyes as to why we eat the way we do,” said Mari McGie, of ERISCO Industries. “The program gave me many ideas on how to combat food cravings”. Added teammate Rae Jean Pytlarz, also of ERISCO Industries: “By cutting down I don’t get so out­of-breath walking up stairs anymore. I learned how to cut down on my eating”. 92% of finishing participants lost weight, with 33% losing 10 or more pounds.

This year, Lighten-Up! ERIE will be held on Monday evenings, from 6:30 – 8:00 PM at Family First Sports Park, one of this years co-sponsors.

The 10-session program will begin February 21, 2005 and run through April 25, 2005. Cost for the program is $45 per person.

For further information or to register, contact Lighten-Up! ERIE at 864­1065. Or visit their website at http://www.lightenUpErie.com. If you are not part of a team, you can still register. You will be placed on another community team.