NEWS RELEASE

OCTOBER 2, 2007

Facing the challenges involved in being the fattest state in the fattest nation in the world, the City of Meridian today launched an ambitious new initiative called “Just Lose It, Meridian.”

The campaign, which will continue through the end of 2007, includes enrolling at least 1,000 residents to lose 10 pounds apiece. The goal is for the people of Meridian to be 10,000 pounds lighter by the end of the year.

The campaign kicked off with a ceremony at Bonita Lakes Park. Meridian Mayor John Robert Smith urged residents to take advantage of the program.

“Imagine lugging around two, five-gallon bags of flour all day every day. That’s 10 pounds and that’s not insignificant.”

To participate, residents and businesses should go to the City of Meridian web site at www.meridianms.org and click on the icon “Just Lose It, Meridian.” They will fill out a form to register and will fill out the same form each time they log on to update their weight loss.

Meridian Parks and Recreation Director Mark Naylor says a number of businesses have already gotten together to initiate competitions among their employees as part of the program. And, he says, at least two fitness centers—Curves for Women and Anderson Fitness Center—have waived their sign-up fees for participants during the week of October 8-12.

Diane Burnham, representing Citizens National Bank, says the employees there have already developed competitions among the various bank branches, and will offer prizes to the individuals and branches that lose the most weight. She challenged other companies to get involved, so employees can encourage each other to stay involved with weight loss and exercise.