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Gary Hogan, whose job as a marketing coordinator for Des Moines International Airport forces him to spend most days sitting behind a desk, recently overhauled his whole approach to eating and physical activity. He eliminated late-night snacks, curbed sweets, and now drinks more water. He also finessed his workout habits by walking, rather than driving, whenever feasible. Subsequently, he lost 16 lb in just a few months. Best of all, he didn't have to spend a lot on a glitzy gym or personal trainer. Lighten Up Iowa, the online fitness program Hogan joined, is sponsored by the state of Iowa and funded primarily by the Iowa Sports Foundation. It cost him just $12.
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STATES RESPOND TO RISING OBESITY COSTS
Lighten Up Iowa is one of the first state-sponsored, Web-based weight-loss programs available to residents for free or at low cost. As obesity costs to states balloon, others are creating their own online fitness programs or adopting Lighten Up America, an offshoot of the successful Lighten Up Iowa, in the interest of residents' health—and the health of the local economy.
"Indiana has among the highest health care costs in the nation. As the governor is trying to attract and retain jobs, the health of our work-force is always an issue," says Eric Neuburger, executive director for the Indiana Governor's Council for Physical Fitness and Sports. He reports that direct and indirect costs of overweight Indiana residents are well into the billions of dollars. But that's only the tip of the iceberg. "It costs the state far more than that in terms of the quality of life," he adds.
In light of obesity's enormous economic burden to states, support for these programs is coming from the top. "When Governor [Mitch] Daniels came into office, he wanted us to put something in place that would address physical fitness and diet," explains Neuburger.
In response, the council developed INShape Indiana, an online fitness program to motivate state residents to lose 10 lb (4.5 kg) in 10 weeks. INShape Indiana challenges participants to burn an additional 250 calories/day and to reduce food consumption by 250 calories/day. "During each of the 10 weeks, participants receive an e-mail to help instruct them on how they can lose one pound," Neuburger says. A nutritionist and a personal trainer develop the tips.
Results have been promising: Since the program's inception in 2005,
>40,000 people have signed up. Average weight loss is 3.1 kg (>7 lb);
one-third of participants have lost 4.5 kg (
10 lb).
FINDING WHAT MOTIVATES PEOPLE
Residents' overwhelming response to INShape Indiana may be due largely to the fact that participation is free and accessible—the Web-based program can fit anyone's schedule. The state benefits, too, from using the Internet: "[It] allows us to communicate with people at low cost, get feedback, and electronically capture anonymous data," notes Neuburger.
While the Web's convenience may lure fitness-seekers in, many supporters believe team competition encourages people to stay with the program. "We found that positive social support is a key in reaching and maintaining weight loss and fitness goals. Our team-based model helps keep participants active and motivated," says Tim Lane of the Iowa Department of Public Health. Lighten Up Iowa registers teams of 2–10 adults from corporations, clubs, neighborhoods, and elsewhere who sign up for the minutes of activity division and/or the weight loss division. Teams compete statewide to see which can accumulate the most minutes of physical activity or lose the most pounds.
After the competition ends, some of the good habits stick, says Lane. According to a survey of Lighten Up Iowa participants, 46% exercised regularly—three or more times per week—before joining the program. After the program, 71% did.
PART OF A LARGER PICTURE
The online nature of state-sponsored fitness programs provides opportunities to share other complementary resources with participants. "We send participants a targeted e-mail based on geography," says Neuburger. The message might contain an invitation to a state-sponsored wellness seminar or a map of nearby walking and biking trails. "INShape Indiana goes hand in hand with other state-sponsored initiatives, like free days at state parks," he adds.
Other experts acknowledge the role of the Web. "Using the Web is just
the medium for the message," says Robin Hamre, a public health analyst
with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of Nutrition
and Physical Activity. "It's much broader than weight loss or fitness.
It's about where there are parks that are free, where you can go to the nearby
farmers' market to buy produce that is locally grown and cheaper."
Footnotes
Lighten Up Iowa educates participants on how to incorporate healthy eating and physical activity into everyday life, thereby creating a culture of wellness. Teams of 2–10 adults compete online with other teams to lose the most pounds or accumulate the most minutes of activity over 4 months. For more information, visit www.lightenupiowa.org.
Information on Lighten Up America, a nationwide Web-based wellness program modeled on the Iowa program, is available nationally at www.lightenupamerica.org.
Indiana offers a fitness program that challenges residents to adopt healthier life-styles. Information is available at www.in.gov/inshape/.
Pennsylvania Advocates for Nutrition and Activity is a statewide organization established by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and supported by a coalition of public, private, academic, professional, and volunteer groups to promote policies and environments that encourage healthy eating and activity. For more information, go to www.panaonline.org.
Kentucky "tweens" can participate in a challenge to become physically active over the summer. The program issues scorecards, available at public places including Lexington public libraries, YMCAs, and pools, for youngsters to track their activity level. Prizes motivate contestants to stay active all summer. The initiative is a collaboration between the state's public-private Partnership for a Fit Kentucky and the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department. More information is available at www.verbsummerscorecard.com/finale.htm.
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