The second annual Tallahatchie Wellness Challenge was quite a success this year as many participants significantly improved their health and wellness. Sponsored by the Tallahatchie General Hospital (TGH) and the Charleston Arts and Revitalization Effort (CARE) with additional funding provided by the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi (CFNM), the Challenge began with two opening registration days; Friday July 26 and Saturday July 27 in the Charleston High School Cafeteria. With help from the University of Mississippi pharmacy students, Holmes nursing students and TGH personnel, the registration days ran smoothly and 100 participants signed up for the 2013 Wellness Challenge. A total of 83 females and 17 males signed up for the Challenge ranging in age from 13 to 83 years with an average age of 41.29 years old. Occupations of the participants ranged from teachers, coaches and social workers to law enforcement officers, preachers and insurance agents.

The eight-week Challenge was free to all who enrolled and participants received a comprehensive baseline health assessment on the day of registration, as well as on the final weigh-out day. The health assessment measures included height, weight, body mass index (BMI), body fat percent, resting metabolism, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist to hip ratio, blood pressure, resting pulse, a cholesterol panel (including total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides) and blood glucose. Participants received one hour of weekly health education with topics ranging from nutrition and exercise to personal health behavior skills and weight management. Weekly group walks took place on Thursday evenings at the Charleston High School track and weekly group fitness classes were held on Saturday mornings at the track. Participants also had access to a personal trainer, a health coach and a health education and behavior expert. According to the director of the Wellness Challenge, Dr. Catherine Woodyard, participants continually expressed their enthusiasm and gratitude for the opportunity to participate in the challenge, learned a lot about health and wellness and thoroughly enjoyed participating in the challenge.

Some comments made by the participants included,

  • My favorite part about the Wellness Challenge was the knowledge I gained regarding different exercises and nutritional facts.
  • The most important thing I learned is that through patience and dedication you will lose weight.
  • The most important thing I learned is about the importance of eating well, how to eat well, and exercising.
  • My favorite part about the challenge was that I enjoyed pushing myself to hit the gym and how good it has made me feel.
  • My favorite part about the challenge was the socialization, getting to more about being fit and encouraging me to continue living healthy.
  • Because of the challenge I am eating better, exercising more and have learned a lot about nutrition.
  • You guys are doing a great job. God bless you all for making a remarkable change in my life.
  • Thank you for this because it is great for the community and I feel lucky to have this.  It feels great to tell people that you are in involved in a wellness challenge in your community.
  • I enjoyed the educational sessions and learning how to have weight loss and still enjoy life.
  • The most important thing I learned is that weight loss is a lifestyle change, you can eat and enjoy life and still lose weight.
  • My favorite part was the weekly educational sessions because I learned so much from the meetings.
  • The most important thing I learned was how to get my body back in shape, how to get my blood pressure and cholesterol normal and how to eat right.
  • I’ve learned not to D-I-E-T, it’s a lifestyle change.
  • I have learned so much. I would encourage anyone to participate in the program.
  • My favorite part was the Saturday morning workouts and the most important thing I learned is how important it is to manage your weight and get plenty of exercise.

Seventy of the 100 participants who signed up for the Challenge attended at least some of the educational sessions, group walks and group fitness classes. About 50 participants were eligible to win the challenge as they attended all of the mandatory educational sessions and most participated regularly in the group walks and group fitness classes. On the final weigh-out day, 31 participants attended and had their final measures taken. According to Woodyard, excitement and enthusiasm filled the high school cafeteria on the final weigh-out day as participants anxiously awaited their final results, spoke of their experiences and discussed who the winners may be. Many participants excitedly shared on camera about their experience in the Challenge, how much they learned, how good they feel and how thankful they were to have such an opportunity participate in the Challenge and to improve their health, wellness and quality of life.

Among the 31 participants who weighed out, a total of 338.47 pounds were lost which is an average of 10.92 pounds per person, a 64.8 percent reduction in overall body fat percent was observed which averages a percent body fat reduction of 2.09 percent per person, and BMI was reduced by 63.1 points overall averaging a reduction in BMI of 2.035 points per person. Regarding waist and hip circumference, which are indicators of an individual’s level of risk for various chronic diseases including diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and high cholesterol, waist circumference was reduced by 56 inches overall, an average of 1.8 inches per person and hip circumference was reduced by 40.5 inches overall, an average of 1.31 inches per person.

In terms of improvements in blood pressure, 24 of 31 participant’s blood pressures were reduced. To illustrate a few of the improvements in blood pressure observed, participant’s blood pressures went from 157/104 to 118/78, from 140/90 to 116/84 and from 158/100 to 130/84. Many participants moved from the categories of stage 1 or 2 hypertension to pre-hypertension while others moved from stage 1 hypertension to prehypertension and normal. With regard to cholesterol profiles, 27 participant’s total cholesterol level was reduced and several moved from high cholesterol levels to normal levels. A few examples of the changes in total cholesterol levels observed among participants include reductions from 228 to 144, 273 to 217, 280 to 235, 181 to 158, and 162 to 126. Regarding HDL (“good”) cholesterol and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, 10 participants raised their HDL levels and 25 participants reduced their LDL levels. Further, triglyceride levels were reduced among 23 participants and blood sugar levels were reduced among 23 participants.

Regarding results from the Challenge, Woodyard stated, “I am very excited about and pleased with the results from the Challenge and am beyond thrilled to see the improvements among the participants in their health status and level of wellness. It was wonderful to hear all of the positive feedback and comments on the closing day of the Challenge from participants. It is my hope we can continue to work with participants to improve their health and reach optimal levels of wellness. The Wellness Challenge was very successful and will be something that we continue to offer annually in Tallahatchie County as one way to work alongside residents to improve health, wellness and quality of life, as well as to prevent disease, manage existing disease and to reduce rates of chronic disease in the county.”

The first place winner of the Challenge was Jeff Hollingsworth and he received $1,000 cash and an overnight stay at the Alluvian Hotel in Greenwood, MS. The second place winner was Leah Hollingsworth and she received $500 cash and a P90X system (DVD program). The third place winner was Rachel White and she received $250 cash and six personal training sessions with Kendall Gregory, owner of Oxford Boot Camp for women. The fourth place winner was Rhonda Smith and she received $100 cash and a Wii Fit system.

Next year’s Challenge will begin in the summer of 2014 and the directors hope even more people will come out and participate. According to Woodyard, each year they hope to improve upon the Challenge and offer more to participants as part of their participation. Next year’s Challenge may even contain a competition component among local worksites and/or churches! Get excited because it just keeps getting better! For more information about the Wellness Challenge or the future Tallahatchie Wellness Center please contact Dr. Catherine Woodyard by email at cwoodyard@mytgh.com or by phone at (501) 276-5459.  Also you can like and follow us on Facebook.