By Wayne Allen

Wallen@

communitycommon.com

Southern Ohio Medical Center and the Portsmouth Area Chamber of Commerce have again partnered together to offer the Scioto Slimdown. The event is set to run 10 weeks starting April 4-June 12 and is designed to help the community become active and improve health in the process.

"This is our second year for the event. We are hoping to have good community participation. Our goal is to instill the importance of fitness and nutrition to community members,” Lisa Carver, administrator of the Chamber of Commerce, said. "The chamber is proud to partner up with SOMC Life Center again to bring this event to the community. We feel like a healthy population encourages a healthy workforce."

“Our community needs this,” Regina Tipton, wellness specialist, who is working with the chamber to organize the Slimdown, said in a earlier interview. “We have a lot of disease in our area, a lot of cancers, heart disease, diabetes and arthritis. Even losing 10 pounds would greatly improve the quality of life of everyone and would leave everyone feeling healthier and have a higher self-esteem.”

Anyone can form a team for the challenge. Teams must consist of three-to-six people, there must be a designated captain and a team name. There is a $5 entry fee, participants must also read through rules and regulations and complete a registration form. The registration must be completed and turned into the Portsmouth LIFE Center by April 2.

"Signups start March 22 and run through April 2 and I will not accept more teams after April 2," Tipton said. "We lost over 3,000 pounds last year, between about 500-600 people. It was very successful, and we are hoping to have the same success this year. This is something that can continue to help the residents of Scioto County get healthy, and learn how to be healthy with weekly tips that will be sent out."

The 2009 Scioto Slimdown started as a six week journey to help the community get in shape and improve health. The result was 132 teams with over 550 people losing 3,600 lbs, that weight equals the size of a Piper Cherokee Lance aircraft or a 2010 BMW 335i. At the start of the 2009 challenge collectively, participants weighed 119,500 lbs. The total loss accounted for three percent of total pounds.

Participants of the Scioto Slimdown will be able to purchase a membership at the Life Center for the duration of the challenge for $100.

Prizes will be awarded to the teams with the greatest weight loss and the highest percentage of weight loss at the end of the competition.

Registration forms must be turned in to the SOMC Life Center, 1208 18th St., by April 2. For more information about the Scioto Slimdown call Tipton at 356-7510 or email tiptont@somc.org.