50 Million Pound Challenge Tops 375,000 lbs in 14 Weeks .

50 Million Pound Challenge Tops 375,000 lbs in 14 Weeks .

Stars Come to Atlanta for Historic Campaign by African-American Community to Take Control of Health, Fight Toll of Excess Weight

Keith Sweat, Omarion, Jagged Edge, Alge Crumpler join Dr. Ian Smith for Free Special Event of music, fitness & fun; National campaign takes on 170,000 people, takes off 375,000 pounds . Anyone can join at 50millionpounds.com

ATLANTA, July 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Vowing to "give up the pounds, not the fight," Dr. Ian Smith-physician, author of the NY Times #1 best-seller Extreme Fat Smash Diet and VH1 Celebrity Fit Club expert-has created The 50 Million Pound Challenge. Supported by a host of African-American leaders and sponsored by State Farm(R), The Challenge is coming to Atlanta on July 21 for a free special event of fitness & fun to help people take control of their health and take up the fight against weight-related illnesses. On pace as one of the most far-reaching initiatives of its kind, The Challenge is an historic campaign & commitment by the African-American community to rally people across the U.S. to get fit & lose weight -- and ultimately live longer, look & feel great. Fourteen weeks into its 14-city U.S. tour, 173,143 people have joined at http://50millionpounds.com/, losing 377,790 total pounds.

A star-studded cast will be at Centennial Olympic Park from 12-4 p.m. (EDT) on Saturday, July 21 for a free afternoon of live music, fitness & fun expected to draw thousands. Joining Dr. Ian Smith are American Music Award-winning R&B singer/ songwriter Keith Sweat, Grammy-nominated R&B star Omarion, hip-hop/soul star singing group Jagged Edge, rapper Bone Crusher, Atlanta Falcons Tight End Alge Crumpler, national radio host Steve Harvey and renowned DJ Biz Markie. Attendees can enjoy live entertainment, get free health screenings, learn more about the initiative and its free fitness tips & tools, sign up online, and join Dr. Ian on a Challenge walk. They can also get free eshots photos, which they can keep as "before" shots to show their progress "after" reaching their personal weight-loss goals -- and motivate them to keep the weight off.

The Challenge aims to reach its ambitious goal by making it easier for millions of people to get fit, lose weight and turn back the deadly toll of weight-related diseases that threaten half of all Americans. Each week 10,000 people die from illnesses related to inactivity and diet. For 135 million Americans and 2/3rds of U.S. adults who are overweight -- double the rate a few decades ago -- people's lifestyle choices have become a matter of life and death. The African-American community has been particularly hard hit, losing too many loved ones to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer and related illnesses. Among African Americans, 80% of women and 67% of men face increased risk of deadly illnesses from excess weight.

"This is an historic opportunity to join hands as a community, take control of our health and save lives," said Dr. Ian, author of the NY Times #1 best-seller Extreme Fat Smash Diet. "The groundswell of support is remarkable. More than 170,000 people have joined, losing 375,000 pounds. And we're just getting started. What began as a simple challenge has become a commitment that's spreading across the entire community. Losing weight and getting in shape has never been easier, or more important. Too many are dying from preventable illnesses. The Challenge encourages and empowers people to get fit and give up the pounds that have frustrated so many for so long. It helps us take a giant leap forward towards leading longer, healthier lives."

To mobilize support and fight back The Challenge is hosting events from April to November in 14 cities: Washington, DC, Baltimore, Miami, Memphis, Cleveland, Houston, Detroit, Atlanta, St. Louis, Chicago, New York, Milwaukee, Oakland and New Orleans. The campaign has enlisted as champions more than 50 leaders and celebrities across the African-American community, and national civic & health organizations including the American Diabetes Association, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Inc., 100 Black Men of America Inc., National Urban League, American Council on Exercise, and Institute for the Advancement of Multicultural & Minority Medicine. And The Challenge is working with State Farm to make it easier for people to get fit and reach their healthy weight with helpful tips & tools, including a go-to resource and online community at http://50millionpounds.com/.

"We're coming to Atlanta to help people take control of their health, make healthier lifestyle choices & give up the pounds, not the fight," said Dr. Ian. "Working together, we will reverse these deadly health trends, one small step at a time, get fit and lose the excess pounds. The reward is worth the weight -- not only will it help you live longer, but you'll look and feel great.

Challenge supporter, R&B star Keith Sweat said, "Life and love is a wonderful thing. When it's right, it's the best thing in the world. We want to make it last forever. But for too many of us, it's over too soon because we're not taking care of ourselves. The Challenge is helping us keep our feet on the ground while we reach for the sky. It reminds us what we need to take care of if we want to make our dreams come true. No matter who you are, you've got to watch out for your health to stay in the game. We all have the power to lead healthier lives. The Challenge gives us a great chance to use it. Sharing your love and dreams means looking out for each other. Showing respect for your health is a commitment to be true to yourself and be there for the ones you love."

Challenge supporter & rapper Bone Crusher said, "Good music is timeless. So is what we create being good to each other. But the time we have on this earth isn't, especially if we get caught up in things that are destructive to our health. Too many people are dying early because they're not exercising & eating right to keep a healthy weight. The good news is it doesn't have to be that difficult if you do it the right way. People ask me how I lost 60 pounds in two months on Celebrity Fit Club. I followed the same advice Dr. Ian gives people for The Challenge. You don't need to diet or starve the weight off. It's much healthier to eat the weight off. You can eat the food you like, just less of it. You don't need anything artificial, like pills or special mixes. Use the natural things God gives us, like fruits, vegetables and organic food. And work out -- that's key.

Signing up for The Challenge is easy, free and anyone can join at http://50millionpounds.com/, where participants can see the total pounds lost by everyone taking The Challenge, and find tips, tools and a private personal weight tracker to measure their own progress. Free Challenge kits are available from participating State Farm agent offices, with a CD and brochure from Dr. Ian with menu and fitness advice, and a pedometer to measure steps. Dr. Ian is working on The Challenge with State Farm, which is sponsoring the initiative as part of its long-time commitment to the African-American community and all communities. "This campaign is ultimately about helping people live longer, more productive lives," said Pam El, Vice President of Marketing for State Farm. "We care about the health of our communities. State Farm is proud to work with Dr. Ian on a campaign that can have such a positive impact on so many people's lives." Said Dr. Ian: "State Farm's support and concern in this initiative has been outstanding. They really get it."

About The 50 Million Pound Challenge

Dr. Ian Smith's 50 Million Pound Challenge, sponsored by State Farm(R), is a campaign supported and endorsed in name and deed by leaders across the African-American community and national civic and health organizations. The Challenge is an historic opportunity and commitment by the African-American community to come together and help people take control of their health by getting fit, losing excess weight and turning back the deadly toll of weight-related diseases that threatens almost 50% of Americans and is hitting the African-American community particularly hard.

About Dr. Ian Smith

Dr. Ian is a diet expert for VH1's Celebrity Fit Club, and author of the NY Times #1 best-seller The Fat Smash Diet and The Extreme Fat Smash Diet, and other works of fiction and non-fiction. He hosts his own TV & radio shows, BET's Meet the Faith and HealthWatch on the American Urban Radio Network. Dr. Ian is a contributor to the View and Men's Health Magazine. He has filed reports and written for NBC Nightly News, The Today Show, Essence, Ebony, People, Cosmopolitan and University of Chicago's Medicine on the Midway. He's a new dad and lives with his family in Chicago.

About State Farm

State Farm(R) insures more cars than any other insurer in North America and is the leading U.S. home insurer. State Farm's 17,000 agents and 68,000 employees serve over 75 million auto, fire, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and more than 1.6 million bank accounts. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No.22 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit statefarm.com(R) or in Canada statefarm.ca(R).

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Source: 50 Million Pound Challenge

CONTACT: Atlanta-area media, Meryl Moss, +1-203-226-0199,
meryl@mediamuscle.com; or National media, Marc Smrikarov, +1-212-486-7070, or
cell, +1-917-595-9481, marcs@brownlloydjames.com; or Mia Jazo-Harris of State
Farm, +1-309-766-5242, or cell, +1-309-533-2011, harris.sfdx@statefarm.com,
all for 50 Million Pound Challenge

Web site: http://50millionpounds.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment