NEWARK, NJ - The Newark Beth Israel Medical Center is challenging area churches to lose weight and get in shape.

About 300 members of Clear View Baptist Church and Philemon Baptist Church in Newark have joined the 12-week contest, and the program itself has helped hundreds of Newark Beth employees lose more than 3,800 pounds collectively.

The program, created by Barbara Mintz, MS, RD, Clinical Nutrition Manager at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, was designed to address individual health and fitness goals and to make weight loss fun.

"We held this program at Clearview Baptist Church in the summer and 30 percent of the more than 125 participants lost weight," Mintz said. "The congregants are anxious to start another round in 2010 and continue their successful efforts toward better health."

Mintz stated that the population in the Newark area is greatly in need of low-cost wellness programs and nutrition education. Often the costs associated with nutritious food, the lack of safe places to exercise as well as education on how to eat in a healthier manner prevent many families from attaining a healthier lifestyle.

"The means to health and wellness and disease prevention is so desired and needed by this population," she said. "We want people to understand that the way they eat and how active they are can influence their long-term health. Sharing this education is really my passion as a nutritionist."

Each participant sets personal health and fitness goals and has 12 weeks to complete the challenge. Participants can enter as a group or individually. Contest winners are based on greatest percentage of weight loss for individual and/or group.

Other goals for the contest can range from weight loss, reduction in BMI, body fat, or reduction in blood pressure, cholesterol.
Contestants are provided with nutrition education and exercise programs tailored to their needs. Contestants are required to weigh in weekly for the length of the contest.

Newark-based Colosseum Gym owner Vincent Laracca has partnered with The Beth Challenge to provide participating church members with a free 12-week membership. Contest winners are awarded a free year's membership to the facility.

"Once they gain an awareness of what they are eating, and start to feel better through exercise and a healthy, they become hooked," Mintz stated. "It's how people change their lifestyle."

For more information, please contact Mintz at 973-926-2663.