CVS/pharmacy and the 50 Million Pound Challenge Distributing Free Health and Nutrition Guide in Stores

WOONSOCKET, R.I., July 7 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of their ongoing partnership to help Americans improve their health and curb the onset of chronic diseases like diabetes, CVS/pharmacy and the 50 Million Pound Challenge announced today the availability of the 32-page 50 Million Pound Challenge Guide in all CVS/pharmacy retail locations.

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The guide is free and offers tools and tips that can lead to better health, including  guidance on weight loss, improved nutrition and exercise. Most important, the guide underscores the link between obesity and chronic diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer, and outlines preventive steps to take now.  Specifically, the guide includes:

• A diet plan from 50 Million Pound Challenge founder Dr. Ian Smith's widely popular book The Fat Smash Diet;
• An exercise plan;
• Information on nutritional content of foods;
• A 7-day meal plan prepared by Dr. Ian;
• Excerpts from Dr. Ian's new book, Happy; and
• Weight loss charts for tracking success.

"Being overweight is the number one health crisis facing nearly all Americans," said Dr. Ian. "Now is the time to get started on a health improvement plan. With the simple steps outlined in this free 50 Million Pound Challenge guide, you may be able to improve the quality of your life and even add years to it."

The guide also includes coupons for healthy snacks at CVS/pharmacy and discounts on 50 Million Pound Challenge gear found at www.50millionpounds.com.

CVS/pharmacy Supports Diabetes Patients

The CVS/pharmacy and 50 Million Pound Challenge partnership is part of a broader effort by CVS/pharmacy to support diabetes patients. Weight can critically affect risk for Type 2 diabetes and even the ability to manage the disease.  For example, if you are overweight, losing just five to 10 percent of your body weight will improve diabetes control.

As part of the partnership Dr. Ian also serves as an ambassador to the CVS/pharmacy "To Your Health," program.  "To Your Health" is a community health screening program launched in April 2010 that offers free comprehensive health risk assessments and screenings, including blood glucose screenings for diabetes.  To date, nearly 10,000 people have been screened in the program's initial events in Atlanta, Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia.

In addition, patients with diabetes, who often have additional health complications that require treatment, incur medical expenses almost two and a half times greater than the average for a non-diabetic. To help patients control costs, CVS/pharmacy has launched the ExtraCare Advantage for Diabetes program that offers discounts and rewards on the purchase of needed diabetes supplies.  

Patients can learn more about ways to manage their diabetes at www.cvs.com/diabetes and receive diabetes-related health and weight loss information at www.50millionpounds.com.

About CVS/pharmacy

CVS/pharmacy is the retail division of CVS Caremark Corporation (NYSE: CVS). The Company operates more than 7,000 CVS/pharmacy and Longs Drugs stores. CVS/pharmacy is committed to improving the lives of those we serve by making innovative and high-quality health and pharmacy services safe, affordable and easy to access, both in its stores and online at CVS.com. General information about CVS/pharmacy and CVS Caremark is available at http://www.info.cvscaremark.com/.

About The 50 Million Pound Challenge

Dr. Ian Smith's 50 Million Pound Challenge is a call-to-action for all Americans to come together and help people take control of their health by getting fit, losing excess weight and turning back the deadly toll of weight-related diseases that threaten nearly half of us. The Challenge is a campaign supported and endorsed by leaders across the community and national civic and health organizations.

About Dr. Ian Smith

Dr. Ian is a diet expert on VH1's Celebrity Fit Club and author of the New York Times #1 best-sellers 4 Day Diet, Fat Smash Diet and Extreme Fat Smash Diet, and HAPPY: Simple Steps to Get the Most Out of Life, as well as other works of fiction and non-fiction. He hosts his own TV and radio shows, BET's Meet the Faith and HealthWatch on American Urban Radio Network. Dr. Ian is a contributor to The View and Men's Health Magazine. He has filed reports and written for NBC Nightly News, Today Show, Essence, Ebony, People, Cosmopolitan and University of Chicago's Medicine on the Midway.

SOURCE CVS/pharmacy

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