At 31.7 percent, South Carolina has the tenth highest adult obesity rate in the nation, according to The State of Obesity: Better Policies for a Healthier America. If that’s not troubling enough, the adult obesity rates in some of the Palmetto State’s rural communities are significantly higher than the state average: 46.2 percent in Newberry County and 40.2 percent in Clarendon County.
Now, the leaders of two small community hospitals are challenging their communities to “take it off” in a unique, cross-state “Battle of the Bulge” weight-loss competition.
The weight-loss challenge issued by Newberry Hospital CEO Bruce Baldwin and Clarendon Health System CEO Richard Stokes is focused on helping adults in their respective communities lose pounds and inches in a healthy manner. Both hospitals will utilize their wellness centers and staffs to support, encourage, and educate participants as they seek to lose weight over the course of the three-month Battle of the Bulge competition, which starts January 15 and concludes April 4. Official weigh-ins are going on now at Newberry Hospital and Clarendon Memorial Hospital through January 10. The Newberry YMCA is also a participant.
“The Battle of the Bulge is intended to be fun for participants, but we also want to address the very serious health issues associated with obesity such as diabetes and hypertension,” explained Newberry Hospital’s Baldwin. “If we can help people get their weight under control through lifestyle changes, we should see improvements in the rate of diabetes, high blood pressure, and stroke in our communities.”
According to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC), about 40 percent of adults in Clarendon and Newberry counties have hypertension, which is associated with stroke. Some 16 percent of adults in Clarendon County have been diagnosed with diabetes, compared to nine percent in Newberry County.
“These numbers are unacceptably high,” commented Clarendon Health’s Stokes. “Those with chronic diseases require more healthcare services and enjoy a lower quality of life. The good news is that both diabetes and hypertension can be controlled through diet, exercise and other healthy choices.”
Added Stokes, “As the largest healthcare providers in our communities, we need to take the lead in helping people get healthy.”
Just in case the Battle of the Bulge seems too serious, both “contenders” have adopted mascots to cheer their communities on to greatness. At Newberry Hospital, it’s “Sparky,” a spunky pug who will appear at the official kick-off on January 14. At Clarendon Health, it’s an outgoing poodle named “Bolt,” who will also make appearances to rally participants. Neither Baldwin nor Stokes intends for the Battle of the Bulge to go to the dogs; both insist their community will win the traveling trophy for most inches and percentage of body weight lost.
The Battle of the Bulge is open to all adults in Clarendon and Newberry Counties as well as surrounding communities. While there is no charge to join the Battle of the Bulge, participants are offered discounted memberships to The Zone at Clarendon Health System and at Newberry Hospital’s Wellness Center. Both offer group classes, personal training, cardio equipment, free weights, and in the case of The Zone, a swimming pool.
