For Immediate Release
April 7, 2004
Contact:
Gena Arthur, (919) 765-2916
Mark Ezzell, (919) 733-4022
N.C. Health & Wellness Trust Fund Commission and BCBSNC Launch Fit Together, a $4.5 million statewide healthy lifestyle initiative
Raleigh, NC — Today the N.C. Health & Wellness Trust Fund Commission (HWTFC) and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) launched Fit Together, a long–term, comprehensive statewide overweight and obesity prevention initiative uniting $4.5 million in public and private resources.
Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue, Chairperson, HWTFC, and Bob Greczyn, President and CEO of BCBSNC, announced the groundbreaking, three–year initiative at a news conference at the Central YMCA in downtown Raleigh.
The three–year initiative will include a public education campaign, consisting of advertising and other communications to the public and a Web site. It will also highlight successful community programs through a clearinghouse and awards program. The media campaign and other program initiatives will begin this year. BCBSNC and the Health & Wellness Trust Fund are jointly implementing and funding the initiative.
The Centers for Disease Control recently reported that 27 percent of North Carolina’s high school students are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight and more than half of North Carolina adults are overweight or obese. This alarming statistic underscores the importance of this three–year campaign designed to change health behaviors in the state. Fit Together will develop and disseminate targeted messages to encourage increased physical activity and healthy eating and promote effective community–based activities and proven approaches.
Fit Together is also aimed at educating individuals that being “fit” doesn’t necessarily mean going to the gym everyday. It means being active through activities such as walking the dog, gardening, pushing your child in a baby stroller, mowing the lawn or playing outside.
“Many North Carolina communities recognize the importance of obesity prevention, and so there are model projects across the state that we all can learn and benefit from,” said Perdue. “Our partnership will make North Carolinians aware of community activities and best practices from Murphy to Manteo. From there, it’s about making healthy choices. And healthy choices result from having the right information.”
A study published in the March 10, 2004 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association concludes that poor diet and physical inactivity are poised to overtake tobacco as the leading cause of death. Obesity and being overweight have been described as an epidemic that could literally wipe out other improvements in health and safety*. It’s a serious issue that cities, towns and states like North Carolina are addressing.
“All across the country, communities are trying new ways to deal with obesity issues and finding out what works. What’s been missing is a way to gather these findings in a single, easily accessible place,” said Greczyn. “With our partners at the North Carolina Health and Wellness Trust Fund Commission, we’re creating a clearinghouse for helpful programs and services, educating North Carolinians through a television awareness campaign and recognizing best practices through an awards program.”
Detailed plans for the Fit Together Web site, awards program and television campaign will be completed and announced in the coming months. Fit Together is a $4.5 million combined commitment over three years by the HWTFC and BCBSNC. HWTFC has already invested more than $8 million in community grants and other initiatives to prevent overweight/obesity in North Carolina.
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation provides financial support to improve the health and well–being of North Carolinians. This mission is achieved through programs and services funded in response to grant requests, as well as through funding for programs supporting needs identified by the Foundation. The Foundation’s primary focus areas include access to care for the uninsured and underinsured, eliminating racial and ethnic health disparities, physical activity, and screenings and education, all with a focus on preventive care.
Since its inception in November 2000, the BCBSNC Foundation has awarded more than $14 million in grants to organizations throughout the state. In addition to its grant program, the Foundation supports several signature programs. These programs include Be Active KidsSM, an award–winning program that teaches preschool children about nutrition and physical activity; and Healthy Community Institutes for Non–Profit Excellence, two–day intensive training sessions offered free of charge to all North Carolina nonprofits. Additional information about the Foundation’s signature programs and grant requirements, as well as a list of all grants awarded can be found on our Web site at www.bcbsnc.com/foundation.
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