Program encourages participants to get active, meet fitness goals
AUSTIN - Gov. Rick Perry has challenged governors from 49 other states to
participate in the "Capitol Steps Challenge," a two-week contest intended to
lead the charge to combat obesity in America.
"Across our nation, obesity rates are growing at an alarming rate, and the
cost of treating obesity related diseases and lost productivity amounts to
an estimated $122.9 billion a year," Gov. Perry said. "As governors, we must
set the example for our states and highlight ways we can address preventable
health problems."
For this challenge, Virgin HealthMiles, a company that focuses on
encouraging active lifestyles, has agreed to assist by providing high-tech
pedometers to each of the governors and their team members. Participants
will be able to upload their fitness results to a secure HealthMiles website
and track their progress. At the conclusion, Virgin HealthMiles will declare
the Most Active Governor's Team in the nation, based on average per person
activity.
"The fact of the matter is that everyone who participates is a winner
because they are setting the pace for healthy lifestyles," the governor
added.
"While we know the path to success is through hard work and determination,
sometimes an incentive waiting at the finish line helps us to persevere,"
Gov. Perry said. "Virgin HealthMiles's program is unlike any other I've
seen, and it is producing impressive results toward keeping people motivated
to stay active and lose weight.
The Centers for Disease Control estimate that more than 60 percent of all
American adults are either overweight or obese, with the cost of treating
obesity related diseases and lost productivity at an estimated $122.9
billion per year. In Texas, the adult obesity rate is 27 percent, well above
the 24.2 percent national average. Obesity cost Texas businesses an
estimated $3.3 billion in 2005, and without efforts to combat it, the cost
is expected to grow to $15.8 billion annually by 2025.
The Capitol Steps Challenge will begin on Jan. 1, 2009, and last for two
weeks. Each governor is encouraged to create a team of 10 to 20
cabinet-level staff to participate in the challenge. Virgin HealthMiles will
provide pedometers to each team member, and participants can upload their
activities and results on a web based program. The winning state team will
be declared the Most Active Governor's Team in the nation at the Capitol
Steps Challenge Awards event Feb. 21, 2009, in Washington D.C. They will
also be presented with a $50,000 donation to their state's childhood obesity
program by Sir Richard Branson and Virgin HealthMiles.
"It's an honor for Virgin HealthMiles to work with Gov. Perry to bring
awareness to the important issue of improving the health and wellness of
citizens across the country," said Sean Forbes, President of Virgin
HealthMiles. "Having governors join together and lead by example about the
value of increased physical activity is an extremely positive message for
all of us concerned with fighting obesity. We're excited to be part of the
Capitol Steps Challenge and look forward to providing a fun and engaging
experience."
Gov. Perry's team, "Team Texas", includes Agriculture Commissioner Todd
Staples, Secretary of State Esperanza "Hope" Andrade, Texas Railroad
Commissioners Michael Williams and Elizabeth Ames Jones, Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality commissioners Bryan Shaw, Larry Soward and Buddy
Garcia, Public Utility commissioners Kenneth Anderson, Donna Nelson and
Barry Smitherman, Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner
Albert Hawkins, Texas Department of State Health Services Commissioner David
Lakey, Texas Department of Criminal Justice Executive Director Brad
Livingston, Texas Department of Public Safety Executive Director Stan Clark,
Texas Education Commissioner Robert Scott, Texas Land Commissioner Jerry
Patterson, Texas Youth Commission Executive Director Cherie Townsend, Texas
Department of Transportation Executive Director Amadeo Saenz Jr., Texas
Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Albert Hawkins, Texas Parks
and Wildlife Executive Director Carter Smith and Texas Department of
Insurance Commissioner Mike Geeslin.
To date, states who have committed to the challenge include Alabama, Alaska,
Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and
Wisconsin.
Virgin HealthMiles provides a unique, incentive-based fitness program that
offers cash rewards of up to $500 annually to members who meet their fitness
goals. Currently, about 50,000 Texans are enrolled in the program; last
year, those Texans lost about 250,000 pounds. (For the purposes of the
Capitol Steps challenge the incentives do not apply.)
For more information on the challenge please visit
www.virginhealthmiles.com/capitolstepschallenge.
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