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Dr. Ian Challenges You To Drop Those Extra Pounds

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By CLOE CABRERA | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 17, 2008

You don't have to be black to take part in celebrity fitness expert Ian Smith's 50 Million Pound Challenge.

But if you are black, he really hopes you'll consider it, because obesity statistics for African-Americans are especially troubling. According to 50millionpounds.com, the Challenge's Web site, almost 80 percent of adult African-American women and 67 percent of adult African-American men are overweight. Twenty percent of African-American teenagers between 12 and 19 are overweight, and the number appears to be rising.

Smith, a physician best known for his participation in the VH-1 reality show "Celebrity Fit Club," created the Challenge, a weight-loss campaign that encourages blacks collectively to lose 50 million pounds.

"I've seen the ravages of obesity," said Smith during a telephone interview from Chicago. "The obesity epidemic is a national epidemic that needs to be addressed on a national level. It's easy to go on national television and talk about it, but I wanted to come up with an approach that was more interventional. The Challenge is an effort that allows us to give people the tools and information they need to lose weight."

The Challenge's free Web site provides an individual weight-loss tracker, diet and nutrition tips and recipes. The site also offers forums where people can chat about their weight-loss struggles and successes.

If 25 percent of the 21 million blacks in the United States who are considered overweight or obese lost 10 pounds each, the campaign's challenge can be met, Smith said. There is no time limit to meet the goal. Since the Challenge launched in April, participants have lost more than 1.2 million pounds.

"I really look forward to the day when we'll be able to celebrate saving the many lives that would otherwise have been lost to the obesity epidemic and other excess weight-related health concerns," said Smith, a best-selling author.

Smith helped launch the weight-loss campaign in Baltimore; Detroit; Memphis, Tenn.; Oakland, Calif.; and other cities. The National Medical Association and other organizations have endorsed the campaign, and State Farm Insurance is sponsoring it.

State Farm has provided its agents with Challenge packets that include a pedometer, Challenge literature and a DVD with information about diet and exercise. The packets are free and available at most State Farm agencies in the Tampa Bay area. Go to 50millionpounds.com to learn where you can pick up a packet.

While you're logging on, here are some more of Smith's thoughts on losing weight and getting fit:

Q. Why are obesity rates so high in the black community?

A. I think a lot of it has to do with cultural issues. Food is such an important part of our culture. It's passed down from generation to generation. A lot of these foods are fried foods and high-fat foods with low nutritional value. People are not aware what they're putting into their bodies. The desire to leave that style of eating has been very low. You're asking people to change eating habits that have been part of their lives for years. Also, when you talk about exercise, blacks need to do a better job of becoming physically active. I hear [black] women say they don't want to [exercise] because they don't want to get their hair wet. It takes too much attention and work to get [the style] back. That becomes a real reason they don't work out. We're leading more sedentary lives.

Q. How did you get into the fitness field?

A. By accident. I was training to be a surgeon, television and print media journalist. I was a columnist for TIME Magazine. I saw a preponderance that had to do with nutrition and diet supplements. People were constantly calling me about these issues. They were confused and didn't understand. I got into it to help my readers navigate the very confusing landscape of diet, nutrition and fitness.

Q. Have you ever had a weight problem?

A. Never. I've always been physically active; eaten several small meals throughout the day. My lifestyle fortunately has kept me from having a weight problem.

Q. Why is the goal 50 million pounds? Why not a smaller number?

A. A smaller number would have been easier. One million would be done by now. But there are 21 million African-Americans that need to lose at least 25 or more pounds to be in the healthy BMI (Body Mass Index) range. Asking 5 million people to lose 10 pounds is a doable goal and would have real impact.

Q. How do you keep the momentum going for the Challenge?

A. We do challenge events around the country. We do HBCUs (historically black colleges and universities), churches, events with sororities and fraternities; awareness campaigns. We do walks; we're always out there getting the word out. State Farm agents will hold events throughout their own area to encourage the challenge on a local level in churches and communities. I do more of the national events.

Q. What's the easiest change someone can make in their eating habits to help them lose weight?

A. Eating at least four small meals a day; that will prevent them from eating those very large meals. The meals we eat are too large. We now know eating four to five times a day from a dietary stand — averaging 300 to 500 hundred calories each meal — will help you lose weight.

Ian Smith Challenge Fits Into Heritage Festival Plans

Fitness guru Ian Smith will be in Tampa today promoting his 50 Million Pound Challenge during the Black Heritage Festival. The 10-day event promotes diversity and cultural sensitivity in Tampa.

The challenge portion of the festival features a 2K walk/run with Smith at Al Lopez Park on Himes Avenue. Registration gets under way at 7:30 a.m.; the walk begins at 8:30. Smith will speak at 11 a.m. There also will be health screenings, giveaways and performances by R&B group Rose Royce and The Sugar Hill Gang.

For information, call 1-888-224-1733, Ext. 143, or go to: www.tampablackheritage.org.

Reporter Cloe Cabrera can be reached at (813) 259-7656 or email: ccabrera@tampatrib.com.

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