August  2007

Newsletter Celebrates Healthy Habits

Despite spending more than $30 billion annually on weight loss products, Americans continue to get heavier, not lighter. Further, many of the ways people choose to try to control their weight are unhealthy and counterproductive. Some health professionals believe that rather than emphasizing weight loss, a better approach is to encourage lifestyle attitudes and habits that will have a positive impact on health. These attitudes and habits include acceptance and appreciation of self, healthy eating and physical activity. The newsletter Celebrate! A Healthy You supports and encourages the adoption of these attitudes and habits.

A survey was sent with the May 2007 issue to all Celebrate! subscribers. Here is what we learned from the survey.

• 95% feel Celebrate! helps them think more positively about themselves.

• 95% agree or strongly agree that the newsletter encourages them to eat more healthfully.

• 93% agreed or strongly agreed the newsletter encouraged them to think differently about dieting.

• 87% said they have changed an eating habit as a result of something they read in Celebrate! some examples include the following comments:
            ◦ “Increased more healthy foods in my snack bag (fruit and nuts).”
            ◦ “Keeping healthy snacks available—more conscious of what I eat.”
            ◦ “I have been trying to eat less sugar and more vegetables. Your recipes         
               encourage me to try new things.”

• 62% made a change in exercise or physical activity. Many comments indicate that readers are making efforts to walk more. For example,

          ◦ “Exercise more, find ways at work to do this by walking instead of calling or emailing.”
          ◦ “Concentrating on increasing my steps—and it doesn’t have to be hard to do.”
          ◦ “Walk—park farther away— take steps.”

Celebrate! A Healthy You has had a 35% increase in the number of subscribers in each of the past two years, and is now sent to 464 people via email and U.S. mail. Each issue features articles on physical activity or fitness, healthy eating, and self-acceptance. In
addition four regular features are included every month. These are “Words to Consider”—thought-provoking quotes, “Menu of the Month”—a healthy recipe with serving suggestions, “Activity Suggestions”—ways to include enjoyable physical activity, and “Timely Tips”—brief comments on a variety of topics. Together, the articles provide specific steps readers can take to adopt healthier habits that they can maintain for life.