Posted 12/6/2007

YMCA expands Greater Columbia Shrinkdown program

Buoyed by the success of the Greater Columbia Shrinkdown, the YMCA of Columbia has decided to expand the healthy living awareness program to a year-round basis.

Renamed Activate Greater Columbia, the program will launch on Monday, Jan 14, 2008, YMCA officials said.

Exclusively the YMCA is offering the expanded program, which targets youth and adult obesity and related diseases.

The 2007 Shrinkdown included partnerships with USC, Palmetto Health, and the Lexington Medical Center. It spanned nine weeks beginning in January.

Barbara Cuevas, a USC volunteer with the 2007 Shrinkdown, said participants “felt a little distraught at the end of the Shrinkdown,” because it marked the end of weekly weigh-ins and the camaraderie developed because of a shared goal.

Cuevas also has high expectations for Activate Greater Columbia. “This is a wonderful program. It’s something that needs to be done,” she said.

The 2007 Columbia Shrinkdown was one of 11 offered by YMCA organizations in South Carolina. Statewide, 27,388 Shrinkdown participants lost 82,641 pounds, YMCA officials said.

Offering many of the same features as the Shrinkdowns, Activate Greater Columbia will:

• encourage participants to accumulate at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity five days per week
• provide healthy living information about nutrition, exercise, and health education weekly
• sponsor regular weigh-ins and counseling
• present "Health Talks," a series of lectures by wellness and medical experts
• challenge everyone, young and old, to begin healthy eating and regular moderate-intensity exercise.