Oklahoma City, USA - About 15 Oklahoma City churches with predominantly black membership are participating in a weight-loss challenge started by an official at a health care company.
Zora Brown, the director of cultural affairs at Integris Health, said she wanted to challenge the membership of predominantly black churches to address health disparities among blacks by fighting obesity. She said obesity is a risk factor for diseases which disproportionately affect blacks.
Brown issued her challenge during Integris Health's African American Summit in November. Churches started registering to participate in the challenge on Feb. 1 and can enroll teams through March 1. The contest will last through Oct. 31.
Lee Cooper, a preacher at Prospect Missionary Baptist Church, said the weight-loss challenge is a good idea. About 50 members at the church are participating.
"We felt it was the perfect opportunity for us to talk about lifestyle changes within our congregation and our community," Cooper said. "We've always thought of health in terms of the absence of illness, but in reality, if we wait until the illness comes, we're already too late."