Local Program Urges Residents to 'Lighten Up'

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer-

Sixty-one percent of American adults are overweight or obese.

And in 2000, Indiana was the 12th most overweight state in the country when the states were ranked by number of obese residents, according to information provided by Marsh Pharmacy Assistant Pharmacy Manager Leslie Plumlee, R.Ph., R.D.

"It's a problem," Plumlee said. "... It's not something we should be proud of."

However, as part of the Lighten Up Indiana campaign, Marsh Pharmacy and the YMCA are sponsoring a weight management program, "On Your Weigh to Health," that empowers people to make healthy choices leading to long-term weight loss.

Plumlee will lead the classes that will meet Tuesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. at the YMCA beginning Feb. 26. Registration begins Feb. 11 at the YMCA. Cost for the program is $175 for members and $225 for nonmembers. The class will last 12 weeks.

The first week will discuss steps to success, expectations, commitments and responsibilities and setting goals. Other topics for the following weeks will include: individual assessment of risk factors; implementing behavior modification; the essential role of physical activity in weight control and maintenance; understanding energy needs versus energy expenditure; managing special situations; where your eating fits in and the eating time profile; the benefits of soy in the diet; recognizing types of fiber and their benefits; a grocery store tour; recognizing the different types of fat and their role in health; and evaluating popular fad diets and over-the-counter diet products.

"It's about the long term, changing lifestyles. Looking at the overall well-being," said Plumlee.

The goals of the Lighten Up Indiana campaign are to improve the well being of overweight Hoosiers, to increase awareness about excess weight health risks and the health benefits of sustained weight loss, to encourage and empower individuals in their efforts to lose weight and to decrease health care costs.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, the national health care costs associated with obesity totaled $99.1 billion in 1995. Direct costs made up $51.6 billion of the total with indirect costs amounting to $47.5 billion.

For more information about Lighten Up Indiana, log onto the Internet at www.lightenupindiana.com or call 317-594-2415.

Lighten Up Indiana is presented by The Care Group LLC and sponsors include Marsh Supermarkets, Indiana State Department of Health, American Heart Association and American Diabetes Association, to name a few.

Plumlee said, "They're all backing our program. They want to see this work." [[In-content Ad]]

Sixty-one percent of American adults are overweight or obese.

And in 2000, Indiana was the 12th most overweight state in the country when the states were ranked by number of obese residents, according to information provided by Marsh Pharmacy Assistant Pharmacy Manager Leslie Plumlee, R.Ph., R.D.

"It's a problem," Plumlee said. "... It's not something we should be proud of."

However, as part of the Lighten Up Indiana campaign, Marsh Pharmacy and the YMCA are sponsoring a weight management program, "On Your Weigh to Health," that empowers people to make healthy choices leading to long-term weight loss.

Plumlee will lead the classes that will meet Tuesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. at the YMCA beginning Feb. 26. Registration begins Feb. 11 at the YMCA. Cost for the program is $175 for members and $225 for nonmembers. The class will last 12 weeks.

The first week will discuss steps to success, expectations, commitments and responsibilities and setting goals. Other topics for the following weeks will include: individual assessment of risk factors; implementing behavior modification; the essential role of physical activity in weight control and maintenance; understanding energy needs versus energy expenditure; managing special situations; where your eating fits in and the eating time profile; the benefits of soy in the diet; recognizing types of fiber and their benefits; a grocery store tour; recognizing the different types of fat and their role in health; and evaluating popular fad diets and over-the-counter diet products.

"It's about the long term, changing lifestyles. Looking at the overall well-being," said Plumlee.

The goals of the Lighten Up Indiana campaign are to improve the well being of overweight Hoosiers, to increase awareness about excess weight health risks and the health benefits of sustained weight loss, to encourage and empower individuals in their efforts to lose weight and to decrease health care costs.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, the national health care costs associated with obesity totaled $99.1 billion in 1995. Direct costs made up $51.6 billion of the total with indirect costs amounting to $47.5 billion.

For more information about Lighten Up Indiana, log onto the Internet at www.lightenupindiana.com or call 317-594-2415.

Lighten Up Indiana is presented by The Care Group LLC and sponsors include Marsh Supermarkets, Indiana State Department of Health, American Heart Association and American Diabetes Association, to name a few.

Plumlee said, "They're all backing our program. They want to see this work." [[In-content Ad]]

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