Weight Loss Challenge Successfull by 2,326 Pounds
• Mayor's 16-Week Fitness Program Attracts 400 Participants
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The individual honors went to Jose Gonzales for losing the most total pounds – 55 pounds. Jose is seen here with Loren McCreesh of the Mayor's Office.
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Mayor Cocchiola receives the Healthy Town Designation from a representative of the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute. Nutley is one of only eight towns in New Jersey to receive the designation.
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Suzanne Scarpelli (center) wins the Overall Individual Title for losing over 25 percent of her total body weight. Suzanne is pictured here with Mayor Cocchiola and her husband, Commissioner Joe Scarpelli.
May 20, 2010 – The 2010 Mayor's Weight Loss Challenge has concluded its 16-week program that included more than 400 participants who over the 16-week program lost a combined total of 2,326 pounds.
Many of the participants reported that after completing the program they are no longer in need of their blood pressure and cholesterol medications. One person was able to decrease his thyroid medication and no longer needs his sleep apnea machine.
"I am incredibly proud of the all their accomplishments" commented Mayor Joanne Cocchiola said today. "Everyone worked very hard and was committed to not only losing weight, but making a long-term healthy lifestyle change."
The 16-week program ended with a celebration at the Starlight Dance Center, one of the Weight Loss Challenge's sponsors. Door prizes were awarded along with special recognition prizes in categories such as "Rookie of the Year" and "Most Active Challenger". All those with 100 percent weigh-in attendance were acknowledged and received pedometers donated by the Mountainside Hospital Foundation.
Top awards went to Suzanne Scarpelli for losing 24.762% of her total body weight. The team "Pounds to Go" with members Kyle Coleman, Laura Cummings, Sandy Horan, Linda Primerano and Petra Tepperk, lost a combined total of 14.196 percent of their total body weight.
The individual honors went to Jose Gonzales for losing the most total pounds – 55 pounds.
"We had a wonderful celebration at the Starlight," Mayor Cocchiola said. "The room was full of challengers, family, friends and sponsors. It was nice to see that everyone was genuinely happy for one another."
Sponsors were out in force with representatives in attendance from Mountainside Hospital, Starlight Dance Center, Signature Fitness, Montclair State University Campus Recreation, Focus Physical Therapy, Fleet Feet Sports of Montclair, Curves for Women of Nutley, Salon Si, Zen with an Edge, and Marsha Rosa – Clinical Dietitian. Supporters also included the Nutley Park ShopRite, Roche and the Nutley Chamber of Commerce 5k Race.
Mayor Cocchiola and the town citizens made great strides in the arena of health and wellness. The Weight Loss Challenge now anchors a list of programs that include public health screenings, dance for health and walk to school Wednesdays. These efforts were awarded at the Starlight celebration when Emily Littman of the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute presented Mayor Cocchiola with the "Healthy New Jersey designation." Nutley is only one of eight towns in New Jersey to receive the designation.
The Mayor also received a New Jersey Healthy Town banner which now hangs in the entrance of the Department of Public Affairs building at 149 Chestnut Street.
A continuing personal maintenance program for alumni of the Challenge includes weigh-ins every other week from now through December. A running club also has been formed and is open to all residents - young and old - with meetings every Saturday at 8 a.m. at the Carmen Orechio sports complex in Boy's Park.
Registration for the 2011 Mayor's Weight Loss Challenge will begin in December.
Additional information about the Mayor's Weight Loss Challenge Finale Celebration and other wellness initiatives is available to the township's website at www.nutleynj.org
