RedBolivia :: The ‘got milk?’ Great American Weight Loss Challenge Makes Its Last Hispanic and National Tour Stop in Dallas Starting Saturday August 12

The ‘got milk?’ Great American Weight Loss Challenge Makes Its Last Hispanic and National Tour Stop in Dallas Starting Saturday August 12

Washington, United States -- Obesity rates in the US have reached epidemic proportions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is estimated that 1/3 of Hispanics are considered obese. This national problem particularly affects Dallas, because Dallas is the 4th most obese city in the US(1). To help people lose weight in a healthy manner, the milk industry invites Dallas’ Hispanic residents to sign-up for the Great American Weight Loss Challenge: a 12-week program that provides the necessary tools to start losing weight in a healthy manner. The plan recommends drinking 24 ounces (or 3 glasses) of low-fat or fat-free milk every 24 hours, as part of a reduced calorie diet and an exercise program.

Recent studies show that the type of protein present in dairy products can contribute to losing weight. As a result, drinking at least three glasses of low-fat or fat-free milk is not only good for your bones, but also in helping you to lose weight(2). The Great American Weight Loss Challenge offers a “call-to-action” plan to assist possible weight “losers”. The key component is milk which combines the essential calcium and protein nutrients, that improves the body’s capacity to burn fat. Drinking milk can help build muscle mass to help lose those extra pounds.

Claudia González, a renowned certified Hispanic nutritionist and author of the book “Gordito Doesn’t Mean Healthy”, explains: “Given the high obesity rates among Hispanics and the fact that they are predisposed to certain diseases, it becomes essential to educate them about good eating habits. In general, when people want to lose weight, they think that they need to skip breakfast, and that’s a big mistake. A study done by Patricia Locklear shows that the longer Hispanics stay in the US, the more the quality of their diet decreases. In fact, 64% of those who participated in the study acknowledged that they eliminated breakfast after moving to the US. So eating breakfast may be one of the key strategies to help Hispanics lose weight”, concluded González.

THE CHALLENGE VISITS YOUR CITY

To help Dallas residents start a successful weight loss program, the Challenge will make its last Hispanic visit and last tour stop in Dallas as part of their 75 cities’ national tour, which included the 8 most important Hispanic cities, being Dallas the last one. The Challenge visited Miami, San Antonio, Phoenix, Houston, Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, and, after visiting Dallas, will not travel the nation again until 2007. Among these 8 Hispanic cities, 7 (including Dallas) are among the list of the 25 most obese cities in the US: Chicago (1), Los Angeles (3), Dallas (4), Houston (5), San Antonio (12), Miami (14), New York (25).(1)

Partnered with Curves International and Shape magazine, this grassroots effort has provided activities in which people have been able to:

-- Receive a general health assessment that provides a benchmark for weight loss
-- Speak with a bilingual registered dietitian about healthy, long-term weight loss strategies
-- Get exercise tips from representatives of Curves, the leader in women’s fitness
-- Sample low-fat or fat-free milk from local dairies
-- Take their very own Milk Mustache photo
-- Get an autographed copy of Claudia González’s book, “Gordito Doesn’t Mean Healthy.”

In addition, one resident from each city who has registered for the Great American Weight Loss Challenge will be randomly selected to win a makeover package that includes a $100 gift certificate to help jumpstart a new wardrobe, a one-year subscription to Shape Magazine and a three-month membership to Curves.

THE CHALLENGE WILL BE PRESENT AT THESE LOCATIONS:

Saturday, August 12
TBD
Six Flags Over Texas, 2201 Road to Six Flags, Arlington

Sunday, August 13
1-3pm
Super Save Foods, 5116 River Oaks Blvd., Ft. Worth

Monday, August 14
11am-2pm
LMain Event: Dallas City Hall Plaza, 1500 Marilla St., Dallas

Wednesday, August 16
5-7pm
Braum’s Ice Cream & Dairy Stores, 2005 W Parker Road, Plano

Friday, August 18
5-7pm
HEB, 800 North Highway 77, Waxahachie

Saturday, August 19
12-4pm
Market Street Supermarket, 6100 W El Dorado Parkway, McKinney

To sign-up for the Great American Weight Loss Challenge and meet more people who have successfully lost weight, log on to http://www.2424milk.com/. For information in Spanish, visit http://www.2424leche.com/, where you’ll find healthy eating tips, recipes and more.

SOURCES:
1. “Baltimore surprised by new title:

America

’s fittest city.” USA Today, January 6, 2006.

2. Teegarden, Dorothy, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Food and Nutrition, Purdue University. “Do I have to give up dairy foods to lose weight?” Milk Facts / Dispelling Milk Myths, Dairy Council of California. http://www.diarycouncilofca.org/.

ABOUT MILK

The Milk Processors Education Program (“MilkPEP”), Washington, D.C., is funded by the nation's milk processors, who are committed to increasing fluid milk consumption. Together with dairy farmers, the MilkPEP Board runs the National "got milk?" Milk Mustache campaign, a multi-faceted campaign designed to educate consumers on the benefits of milk. For more information, go to http://www.whymilk.com/.The tagline "got milk?"(R) was created for the California Milk Processor Board by Goodby Silverstein & Partners and is licensed by the national milk processor and dairy producer groups. SiboneyUSA is the integrated communications agency for the US Hispanic market.