Ball State University students interested in losing unsightly pounds and inches can take advantage of a free physical fitness challenge the State Department of Health is offering.
More than 40,000 Indiana residents rose to Gov. Mitch Daniels' challenge to lose 10 pounds in 10 weeks. The 10-in-10 Challenge, which was part of Daniels' INShape Indiana physical fitness program, ended March 24.
Eric Neuburger, executive director of the Indiana Governor's council for physical fitness and sports, said although the state-wide challenge is over, people can sign up for the same diet and workout regimen online.
"The challenge is a way to encourage Hoosiers to lose 10 pounds in 10 weeks through better food choices and increased physical activity," Neuburger said. "It doesn't take much to know we have a problem with weight here in Indiana. [Daniels] wanted to improve the quality of life here."
Delaware County, which had 747 participants, ranked in the top third of Indiana counties for participation, he said. Ball State had 137 students and faculty participate, Neuburger said.
The average reported weight loss for the state was about seven pounds, and one-third of the participants lost more than 10 pounds, he said.
Delaware County's average was 6.8 pounds with 25 percent reporting more than 10 pounds lost. The State Department of Health has not collected enough data yet to rank the counties by weight loss, Neuburger said.
Jane Ellery, associate director of the Fisher Institute for Wellness and Gerontology, said department staff did workshops for local businesses to get the community involved. Ball State provided advice about social, intellectual and environmental health to compliment the physical health help INShape Indiana was providing.
Neuburger said participants received a weekly e-mail with an assignment to help people cut 250 calories from their diet and burn an additional 250 calories. A nutritionist and physical activity expert created the diet and exercise routine, which was based on an average adult's size and weight, he said.
Daniels began INShape Indiana in July 2005 as a way to help Indiana residents get into better physical condition, Neuburger said.
Ellery said Indiana has higher rates of obesity and tobacco usage than other states.
"In general, the health of people in Indiana is not as good as people in most other states," she said. "I don't think we know why for sure."
Cold winter climates forcing people to stay indoors and be less active could be one reason, Ellery said.
"If you're going to stay active and fit and get around, you do that stuff in the summer a lot differently than in the winter," she said.
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