THE ODDS WERE AGAINST THEM

But together, 1,058 people
lost 7,593 pounds
in eight weeks.

These are the statistics the Meltdown participants faced:

• 64 percent of Americans are overweight.  (Source: The Keystone Center)
• An estimated $177 billion is spent on medical costs directly related to obesity.  (Source: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion)
• More than 60 percent of adults do not get enough exercise.  (Source: National Center for Health Statistics)
• 33 percent of U.S. adults (71 million people) are currently dieting.  (Source: Calorie Control Council)
• Overweight Americans spend $33 billion annually on weight reduction products and services.  (Source: www.dietcenter.com)
• Three-fourths of Americans rate obesity as an “extremely” or “very” serious health problem in the United States.  (Source: Harvard School of Public Health)
• An estimated 300,000 premature deaths result from obesity each year. (Source: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion)

And what did they gain?

“For many, the benefits of the lifestyle changes were real and immediate:

reduced medications, especially for diabetics;

lower blood pressure;

improved outlook and appearance;

more stamina and energy;

improved self-esteem;

and for many of us, new friends.

As real as those benefits were, we couldn’t measure the number of heart attacks or strokes that had been prevented or delayed or how many additional years we had collectively added to the lives of Meltdowners.” (page 81)