Challenge should be a win-win for individuals, communityA varied cross section of local business and community members recently signed up for a losing proposition – and they should be commended for it. These folks – business owners, workers, relatives and friends – took stock of themselves, and then they took the Eagle Challenge.

The Challenge, unveiled by the newspaper last month, dares participants to do their best individually and as a team to improve their health and fitness over the next six months. While that effort has just begun, the turnout already looks impressive. In all, 16 teams – that’s 112 people – formed to take the Challenge.

The Challenge teams started their work, or workouts, last week with some good-natured joking among the teams, and even some pranks. (Who was responsible for those secret donut deliveries, anyway?)

But there’s a serious side to all this hoopla. Grant County is noted for its aging population, a trend that brings increasing health concerns. We also live in a rural area noted for its good food and home cooking, but all those biscuits and gravy can take a toll.

We share a risk with the rest of the United States – the hazards of too much weight. The problem nationally is so serious that the U.S. Surgeon General last November issued a call to action to prevent overweight and obesity. Among the findings that spurred that alarm:

? An estimated 300,000 deaths a year are attributable to obesity.

? Even moderate weight excess (10-20 pounds) can increase the risk of death, particularly among adults 30-64 years of age.

? Heart attacks, heart disease and high blood pressure are more likely in overweight or obese persons.

? A weight gain of 11-18 pounds increases a person’s risk of developing Type 2 diabetes to twice that of individuals with stable, normal weight. Type 2 diabetes, previously considered an adult problem, is being seen increasingly in overweight children and adolescents.

? Obesity is linked to a smorgasbord of other medical conditions: breathing problems, cancers, complications during pregnancy, infertility, and more.

It’s not a pretty picture, and it definitely alarms the people who monitor the nation’s health and its health costs. It’s also a good reason to applaud the effort of every individual who seeks to reverse this trend.

The good news, according to the Surgeon General, is that even modest weight loss can reduce the risk of some diseases, and can help control blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure levels.

So it makes sense that weight loss is the most often-cited goal of Challenge participants here in Grant County. Some want to lose a few pounds; some want to lose a bunch.

But all have goals that go beyond mere pounds to quality of life issues. One wants to be able keep up with the family on a coming vacation; several are tired of buying larger and larger clothing; others want to gain strength and stamina, and one confessed she just didn’t want to feel left out. Overall, though, these folks want to live healthier lives – for themselves and their loved ones.

The Challenge participants have agreed to go public with their quest, and they’ll blog about their advances and setbacks regularly on the Eagle’s website. Readers are invited to follow their progress and offer moral support or the occasional pat on the back. Better yet, they could start their own health quests in 2008.

Remember, the Challengers’ goals may be individual, but we hope the net effect will be a healthier Grant County. – SC