MyCentralJersey.com
By LINDA SADLOUSKOS • STAFF WRITER • May 24, 2010
BERNARDS — When Mayor Scott Spitzer says he wants local residents to tighten their belts, he’s speaking literally.
As part of the continuing Mayors Wellness Campaign, the township and other partner organizations are launching a Toxic Waistlines competition, similar in concept to the television show, The Biggest Loser.
“Living better and making healthy choices is really the key to good living, and addressing skyrocketing health costs,” Spitzer said, explaining his interest in the program.
After 100 days of participation, the participant with the highest percentage of body weight loss will win $500, according to a information in a flier and on the township website, www.bernards.org.
Registration deadline for residents or municipal and township school employees, age 11 and older, is this Friday. Participants may register through the township parks and recreation department, 908-204-3003, or the township health department, 908-204-2520. Registration forms also are on www.bernards.org or www.bernardshealth.org.
Enrollment costs $10.
Spitzer said the program will begin a full schedule of exercise classes, seminars on healthy eating and other recreational and educational sessions to promote losing weight in a healthy manner.
“We are not going to encourage anyone to go on crash diets,” Spitzer said.
Township Health Officer Lucy Forgione said the program will focus on whittling weight from waistlines. “It has long been recognized that an individual who carries excess weight around their middle has a higher risk for stroke and heart disease even if their weight is normal,” she said.
The township was the only municipality in the state this year to receive a grant from the nonprofit New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute to underwrite the
program, said Emily Littman, director of the statewide Mayors Wellness Campaign program.
The institute and the Somerset Hills YMCA will partner with the township departments in offering the program, according to a news release from the township health department.
Spitzer said the $18,000 grant will cover the cost of prizes and other activities in the planned program. Along with the top winner, the next two biggest percentage losers of body weight each will win $250, and the next seven will win $100, according to the township. All participants between 11 to 17 will receive a $25 gift card after completing the 100-day program.
Littman said the township has shown the greatest interest in the statewide program of any New Jersey town. The mayor and other Township Committee members had led free exercise programs for residents since Spitzer was appointed as mayor in January.
Events will be scheduled at least once a week, and participants are encouraged to attend.
Participants will be measured and weighed in on June 2 between 3 to 6 p.m. or on June 3 between 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Bernards Township Community Center, 289 S. Maple Ave. All weight information will be kept confidential, Forgione said.
Leave a Reply
