AARP Online Community Challenge Sets Goal to Lose 20 Tons

Carole Carson will coach innovative virtual weight-loss community

Washington, DC (PRWEB) April 16, 2009 -- On April 15, individuals of all ages can join the AARP Online Fat 2 Fit Community Weight-Loss Challenge to start getting healthy. Carole Carson--dubbed "An Apostle for Fitness" by the Wall Street Journal and the author of From Fat to Fit: Turn Yourself into a Weapon of Mass Reduction--will spend eight weeks working with members of the AARP.org online community to help them shed pounds and live healthier.

The Challenge is modeled after the Nevada County Meltdown, where Carson helped more than a thousand neighbors and friends lose nearly four tons in eight weeks. It is free, open to all ages and welcomes AARP members and non-members alike. Participants are encouraged to consult with their doctor before beginning the Challenge. To join, visit www.aarp.org/fat2fit.

"We will have tons of fun as we lose tons of weight," says Carole Carson.

The statistics are alarming:

   ●   126 million Americans are overweight or obese.

   ●   Obesity shortens a person's life by 10 years.

   ●   The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates the direct and indirect costs of being overweight or obese is $117 billion annually.

Challenge participants can:

   F:   Find inspiration, information, cooking tips and advice from experts to help stay on track.

   I:   Individualize eating and exercise routines so new healthy habits can be developed and sustained.

   T:   Team up with others to give and receive support in their fitness adventure.

"We find many users visit our online community to gather information and advice on a variety of subjects from their peers," said AARP President Jennie Chin Hansen, who plans to join the Challenge herself. "We are pleased to offer a way to bring people together online to fulfill a common goal and hopefully live healthier lives."

About AARP
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 34.5 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's 40 million members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

For more information on the AARP Fat 2 Fit Community Weight-Loss Challenge, for a copy of From Fat to Fit, or to interview the author, please contact Mary Ellen Gross, 858-456-0707, sizzle(at)san.rr(dot)com, or visit www.fromfat2fit.com.

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