Methodist commits to helping Mid-southerners lose weight

Earlier this year, Memphis earned the dubious distinction of being ranked the second most overweight city in America.

This is heavy news, in more ways than one. Obesity currently affects more than one third of our Mid-south community. That means at least 1 in 3 of our neighbors, friends, colleagues and family members faces significantly higher risk of heart disease, diabetes, respiratory issues, certain cancers and other life-threatening conditions. It means that, as a community, our vitality, our well-being, and our overall quality of life is truly weighed down.

But we also know that in the Mid-south, our strength runs deep. Ours is a community renowned for our capacity to rally and rise. Again and again, we have pulled together in times of trial over these past few, immensely challenging years.

Time and again, we are reminded that there is power in our numbers.

Let’s work as a community to get healthier

That’s why today, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare is proud to tell you about our new Healthier 901 initiative, this life-changing movement is designed to inspire healthy—and lasting—change in people all across the Mid-south.

Our goal is simple: lose one million pounds over the next three years.

While the goal may be simple, we know it won’t be easy. And for that very reason, we’re launching a movement powered by Methodist Le Bonheur, to encourage our entire community to work together toward this life-changing mission—and I invite you to be among the first to join.

Healthier 901 is more than a weight loss challenge. Healthier 901 is a rallying cry for our community to rise up, step up, stand up and level up to the vibrant quality of life our citizens so dearly deserve. Healthier 901 could be cancer diagnoses prevented. It could help place diabetes in remission. It could be heart attacks avoided and lives of loved ones, saved.

Above all—healthier 901 is for everyone, no matter your age, or where you are on your health and fitness journey. Healthier 901 is an opportunity for our youngest Mid-southerners to form lasting wellness habits, and a chance for our older residents to enjoy a new lease on (potentially longer) life.

We know that weight loss yields substantial health benefits. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), losing just 5%-10% of one’s body weight can lower blood pressure, cholesterol and sugars while increasing both quality and length of life. Whether your goal is to lose five pounds or 50, to lead a more active life, or to simply maintain your current healthy weight, we are encouraging the entire Midsouth to band together and support this effort to create a Healthier 901.

Building a community of support is critical

Making big changes alone can be incredibly hard. But, by engaging our far-reaching network of community partners and motivating Mid-southerners everywhere to join the movement, we can become an unstoppable force, collectively working to realize this ambitious million-pound weight loss goal.

Already, Healthier 901 is backed by proud sponsors Cigna Healthcare, Action News 5, Nike and Kroger— institutions that are standing shoulder to shoulder

with the Mid-south community in our pursuit of a stronger, healthier future.

Building and maintaining a supportive community is critical for long-term success, which is why we encourage you to invite your co-workers, family members, social groups, faith communities, neighbors and friends to join the Healthier 901 movement. It is going to take all of us.

Healthier 901 will be supporting our community in myriad ways throughout this weight loss challenge, from free fitness classes and educational events to complimentary digital tracking tools and giveaways from our sponsors (you didn’t think we’d launch a challenge without sponsor prizes, did you?)

No smartphone? No problem. You can learn more, access tools and resources, and enroll in the community challenge at www.healthier901.com. I also hope you’ll make plans to join us on Saturday, Sept. 2, for our Healthier 901 kickoff event at Shelby Farms Park. From 10 a.m.-2 p.m., community members can enjoy healthy cooking demos with celebrity chefs, complimentary workout classes with some of the city’s best trainers, health screenings, outdoor climbing wall excursions, sponsor giveaways and inflatable bounce houses, as a reminder to our youngest residents that an active lifestyle can also be a lot of fun.

Obesity is a long-running aspect of our community’s history, but a healthier, happier future is well within reach for everyone. There is power in our numbers— so join the movement today and take your part in a Healthier 901.