Media Advisory

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Tuesday, February 9, 2016

WHAT

Bay Area Moves (BAM) challenges all Bay Area residents to commit to 150 minutes of walking each week for 16 weeks.

Participants sign up as individuals or teams and record their walking times to receive certificates and become eligible for prize drawings.

There is also a competition between the nine Bay Area counties, and the time participants spend walking also counts toward the totals of their home counties. The county with the most minutes logged wins recognition as the "Fittest County."

WHO:

Anyone can register for free at www.Heart360.org/BayAreaMoves

WHEN:

The challenge runs from February 14 to June 5.

WHY:

Walking is one of the simplest ways to maintain physical fitness and reduce obesity. The most recent state data show 52.5% of Contra Costa County adults are considered overweight or obese, meaning they are at higher risk heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and other related health problems.

BAM is a project of the Bay Area Nutrition and Physical Activity Collaborative (BANPAC) in partnership with the American Heart Association.

BANPAC is a regional group of health organizations, including Contra Costa Health Services, committed to improving public nutrition, physical activity and increased access to healthy food.

For health tips or more information about the BAM Walking Challenge, visit banpac.org/banpac_resources_bay_area_moves.htm

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