Florida Hospital Hosts Healthy 100 Launch

Central Florida Business Leaders Challenged to Live Longer, Healthier

Florida Hospital and "Blue Zones" author, Dan Buettner, encourages community leaders to live healthier lives

WHAT: Every day, Florida Hospital sees first hand the impact that serious, chronic illnesses have on people's lives.  Florida Hospital believes it is time to encourage its 16,000 employees and the entire community to make drastic lifestyle changes.  Those changes must start with the business leaders and Florida Hospital is inviting the community to join us on this journey called Healthy 100.

Central Florida's top business, government, and economic leaders are gathering to learn more about how to live longer and healthier from world-renowned author and researcher, Dan Buettner.  No one knows how long they will live, but there are geographic areas across the globe where residents statistically live longer than the rest of us.  It is common for these people to live to 100 years old.  Buettner's research shows their healthy lifestyles contribute greatly to their longevity.  That is basis for his book, Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who've Lived the Longest.

Buettner has presented his findings on Oprah and every national television network in the U.S. and now will challenge the boards of directors of the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission, Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Central Florida Partnership, Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce and myregion.org at a luncheon hosted by Florida Hospital.  The leaders will hear more about how they can support the business community and their employees on a journey to living healthier lifestyles.

WHY: The 2009 Community Health Survey revealed that 64.5% of metro Orlando residents report they are overweight.  A look back in history shows that number is increasing.  The number of Central Floridians who say they are overweight has increased by more than 10% over the past 10 years.   Being overweight or obese can lead to a wide variety of medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, which can limit life expectancy.  A community-wide effort, like Healthy 100, is necessary to change these trends, and that is why Florida Hospital is encouraging business leaders to start now by helping their employees make healthier choices. 

WHEN: Media Opportunities 
              Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009

• 11:40 a.m. Community leaders receive a variety of health screenings
• 12:15 p.m. Dan Buettner shares his vision for a healthy community
• 1:15 p.m. Talk with top leaders as they consider how to improve the health of Central Florida

WHERE:  Florida Hospital Orlando, Ginsburg Tower
             601 E. Rollins Ave.
             Orlando, FL 32803
            * Please park at the valet stand and someone will be there to escort you.

VISUALS:  Interview, photo and video opportunities available, including:  

• Hear Dan Buettner share ways individuals, companies and communities can create a culture of wellness.
• Talk with Florida Hospital leaders about why the hospital is beginning a journey towards preventative health care and encouraging businesses to join the quest to become Healthy 100 organizations.
• Interview business leaders as they consider how they can make Central Florida healthier.

CONTACT:  For more information, contact Florida Hospital Media Relations at 407-303-8217.

 About Dan Buettner:

Dan Buettner is the New York Times best-selling author of The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who've Lived the Longest. Buettner is an internationally recognized explorer who founded Blue Zones, a project that researches the world's best practices in health, happiness and longevity and shares that information to help people live longer.  Since January 2009, Dan has led the successful project in Albert Lea, Minn. to implement community and social changes that improve quality of life and add at least two years to life expectancy to each resident's life.  The article Buettner wrote for National Geographic Magazine in November 2005, Secrets of Living Longer, was the third highest selling issue in the magazines history and made Buettner a National Magazine Award finalist. Buettner has appeared as a longevity expert on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Good Morning America, The Today Show, ABC World News, CBS's The Early Show, the Dr. Oz Show and CNN.  He is also a member of Cooking Light magazine's Advisory Board.

www.floridahospitalnews.com

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