The Link

10/31/2012
IOWA SPORTS FOUNDATION

IOWANS COMPLETE PEDOMETER CHALLENGE

Over 5,000 Iowans compete in 'The Next Step Challenge'

AMES, Iowa - Oct. 31, 2012 - Live Healthy Iowa's 2nd annual pedometer based challenge, The Next Step Challenge, concluded on Oct. 19 with 5,117 Iowans competing on 905 teams. Participants received a Live Healthy Iowa pedometer, motivational emails, a personal online tracking page and unlimited access to recipes, workouts and health information to assist them in their commitment to increase their level of physical activity. At the end of the six week challenge, team members recorded more than 1.3 billion steps equaling nearly 700,000 miles. Teams and team members were incentivized throughout the challenge with opportunity to win up to $50 in gift cards and workout towels.

Director of Live Healthy Iowa, Nicole Bruce, commented on The Next Step Challenges' success, "What a great challenge! Physical activity is an important component to a healthy lifestyle and we were thrilled to have over 5,000 Iowans increasing their step count this fall. These individuals have taken great strides to help Iowa become a healthier state!"

The Next Step Challenge is an annual statewide challenge in which teams of Iowans track their physical activity using a pedometer. Team members report weekly totals on their personal Live Healthy Iowa online tracking page in effort to move their team up the challenge leaderboard. Teams and team members have opportunities to win team incentives and individual prizes throughout the challenge.

To learn more about Live Healthy Iowa and get involved in upcoming challenges, such as the 10 Week Wellness Challenge beginning in January, visit www.livehealthyiowa.org.

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About Live Healthy Iowa

Live Healthy Iowa, formerly Lighten Up Iowa, was created in 2001 by the Iowa Sports Foundation as a strategic health initiative to address the state's growing obesity problem. Live Healthy Iowa brings together friends, families, businesses and communities in team-based wellness challenges designed to promote positive lifestyle change. In 2011, more than 152,000 adult and youth Iowans took part in a Live Healthy Iowa program. To learn more, visit www.livehealthyiowa.org.

(Contact: Emily Bisbee, Live Healthy Iowa Coordinator, emily@livehealthyiowa.org, (888)777-8881 ext. 102)