Three Ways to Get Healthy This Fall

Lose to Win

St. Louis, joined with several other groups, is offering a 12 week Lose to Win Challenge that starts Sept. 8. The program kicks off from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at SSM St. Clare Health Center in Fenton or SSM DePaul Health Center in Bridgeton. 

During the kick off, participants can have blood pressure and BMI/Body fat checked, meet with dieticians and fitness experts. Participants track their success and the top weight losers are awarded prizes Dec. 16. Pre-register by calling 314-776-3627 or www.losetowinstl.com. Registration opens Aug. 27 and ends Sept. 6. In the spring challenge, 1,000 people participated and about 60 percent completed the challenge. 

Biggest Winner Round 4

Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital and are partnering to host a nine week Biggest Winner contest Sept. 17 to Nov. 16. Kick off will be held Sept. 12 from 6-7:30 or Sept. 13 6-7:30 p.m. Winners receive a grand prize. To register call 636-928-9355. 

Zuum Health App

Health-care professionals have developed a free iPad app that estimates a user’s disease risk and offers a customized plan for living a healthier life.

“We wanted to get the word out about easy changes in behavior that might help people prevent certain diseases,” said Graham Colditz, MD, PhD, an internationally recognized disease prevention expert at the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

Called Zuum, the app quickly estimates a person’s risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke and different cancers, including lung, colon, breast and prostate. Zuum then provides tailor-made tips to prevent these illnesses and boost overall health. For example, the app shows users how diet, TV viewing habits and other factors could affect future health.

Zuum is available on iTunes. For more information about Zuum, visit http://zuum.wustl.edu, or follow the app’s Twitter account at http://twitter.com/Zuum_Health.

*Information from Jim Goodwin, Washington University.