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Challenges the Mid-South to Lose One Million Pounds in Three Years

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Aug. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare announced a bold initiative today to challenge and help Mid-South residents to lose one million pounds throughout the next three years.

The Memphis-based healthcare system’s most recent Community Health Needs Assessment identified heart disease and cancer as the top causes of death in Shelby County, Tenn., and DeSoto County, Miss. Scientific studies show clear links between obesity and both conditions, and the Memphis Metro-Area is ranked the second most overweight city in America.

“Our neighbors and community members are diagnosed with life-threatening diseases every day. This challenge was built to help people in the Mid-South live healthier lives and make lasting changes for future generations. We can do what very few others have done and we’re going to do it, together,” said Michael Ugwueke, MPA, DHA, FACHE, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare president and CEO. “Building and maintaining a supportive community is key for long-term success. Healthier 901 is for the entire family, no matter where each person is on their health journey.”

Healthier 901 supports a healthier community for everyone, providing participants with the tools they need to engage and focus on various aspects of health and wellness, whether someone wants to lose weight or just gain greater control of their health and wellness.

• On September 2, Healthier 901 Fest is a free, public event that will take place at Shelby Farms Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with fitness workouts, delicious cooking demonstrations with celebrity chefs, health screenings, giveaways from sponsors, inflatables and fun activities for the whole family.
  
  
• The challenge will also launch the official Healthier 901 app. Participants can track their progress, challenge friends or coworkers, and connect socially. The free customized app will be available to the public later in August online and via smartphone.   

Healthier 901 is sponsored by anchor community partners including Cigna Healthcare, Action News 5, Nike and Kroger.

“We are proud to partner with Methodist Le Bonheur on this important program to improve the health and vitality of the Memphis community,” said John Webb, Cigna Healthcare president of the TriSouth. “Together we’re building on our longtime relationship with MLH to help the people we both serve live longer, healthier and happier lives.”

“We are incredibly grateful to our generous sponsors who understand the dire need for this initiative and the challenges our community faces when pursuing a healthier lifestyle,” said Ugwueke. “There is power in numbers and together, we are committed to creating pathways to success for anyone in our community.”

To learn more and enroll in Healthier 901 community challenge, visit Healthier901.com. More details around the kickoff event at Shelby Farms and the app’s official launch will be announced soon.

About Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare
Based in Memphis, Tennessee, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare has been caring for patients and families regardless of their ability to pay for more than 100 years. Guided by roots in the United Methodist Church and founded in 1918 to help meet the growing need for quality healthcare in the greater Memphis area, MLH has grown from one hospital into a comprehensive healthcare system with 13,000 Associates supporting six hospitals, including nationally ranked Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, ambulatory surgery centers, outpatient facilities, a hospice residence and physician and specialty practices serving communities across the Mid-South. From transplants and advanced heart procedures to expert neurology services and compassionate cancer care, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare offers clinical expertise with a focus on improving every life we touch.

SOURCE Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare