This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Schools

Holy Family Medical Center Launches Initiative to Improve the Health of the Des Plaines Community

Holy Family Medical Center Launches Initiative

to Improve the Health of the Des Plaines Community

DES PLAINES, Illinois (December 10, 2010) – Holy Family Medical Center (HFMC) will kick-off its Let's Move Our Numbers! Campaign on Thursday, January 13, 2011, featuring NBC5's 2009 Biggest Loser contestants and "At-home" winner, Jerry and Estella Hayes, with the goal of improving the health and well-being of the community. The goal of the event is to inspire community members, employers and institutions in and around Holy Family's campus in Des Plaines to make smart lifestyle choices and become more active and healthier.

Find out what's happening in Des Plaineswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Let's Move Our Numbers! brings focus to four critical numbers: cholesterol levels, blood pressure, blood sugar and body mass index (BMI). These four numbers, more than anything else, can determine our risk for developing a chronic illness or disease, according to Istina Morariu, M.D., a pediatrician and internist at HFMC.

"Chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes are among the most preventable of all health problems," said Dr. Morariu. "BMI is important to know because to maintain a healthy weight, but you also need to keep up regular health screenings and keep track of your cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure readings."

Find out what's happening in Des Plaineswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Jerry Hayes, who won the $100,000 "At-home" prize for the contestant who lost the highest percentage of body weight among those voted off the show, no longer takes the six medications he once needed for high blood pressure, diabetes and gout after reaching a healthy BMI through exercise and diet.

Voted off the show in the first and second week, Estella and Jerry Hayes, respectively, lost only 35 lbs combined initially. But they were committed to leading a healthier lifestyle and continued exercising and eating right, and in eight months at their suburban Chicago home, Jerry lost another 177 lbs. and Estella lost 83 lbs. 

Jerry and Estella will share the insights and tips to leading a healthier lifestyle at HFMC's Let's Move Our Numbers! kick-off event, Thursday, January 13, 2011, 5:30-7:30pm, 100 N. River Road, Hospital Auditorium, Des Plaines. Attendees will hear from a representative of the Surgeon General's Office, learn about Michelle Obama's Let's Move program, sample healthy food and beverages, hear inspirational stories and discover new fitness techniques from the Lattof YMCA. NBC5 News Anchor Dick Johnson will moderate the program. Email event@resurrectioncares.org, or call 312-645-9400 ext. 26 to sign-up for the event.

http://www.reshealth.org/sub_hfmc/programs/move_numbers_event.html

###

Holy Family Medical Center and Resurrection Health Care are stakeholders in Building a Healthier Chicago, the nation's first city-wide health collaborative dedicated to improving healthy eating, increasing physical activity levels, and prevention, detection and control of high blood pressure and other chronic conditions.

Resurrection Health Care is a nationally ranked leader in quality care. In 2010, we were recognized with the Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical ExcellenceTM at three hospitals, 14 specialty excellence awards and 48 five-star ratings, placing us among the top hospitals in the nation.

Resurrection Health Care is a not-for-profit Catholic organization sponsored by the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth and the Sisters of the Resurrection.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?