Parsippany Takes Top Honors in New Jersey's First-Ever Toxic Waistlines Contest

Residents in Parsippany and Lincoln Park Take Individual Honors, Winning
$1,000 Each

PARSIPPANY, N.J., July 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Parsippany took top honors in the
state's first-ever 100-day "Toxic Waistlines" Contest, which began on March
1st and ended on June 2nd. With participating residents losing an average of
4.167 inches off their waist lines and a combined 494.9 pounds, Parsippany was
presented with a plaque and Morris County bragging rights over 13 other
participating communities.

Residents throughout northern and central New Jersey also participated on an
individual basis, competing to see who could lose the most percentage of
weight during the 100 days. Individual honors of Whole Foods Market gift cards
and a $1,000 check went to:

-- Robert Zanfino (Lincoln Park) who lost 28% (54.5 lbs) and 13 inches
off
his waist line
-- Roberta Waffenfeld (Parsippany) who lost 24% (52 lbs) and 9 inches off
her waist line

-- Susan Graziano (Parsippany) who lost 20% (36.4 lbs) and 5.5 inches off
her waist line

In total, the 14 participating communities collectively lost 622.25 inches off
their waistlines and 2,617.56 pounds. A total of 264 individuals participated
in the competition.

"This has been a fun way to promote community fitness and we could not be more
pleased with the results," said Emily Littman, Director of the Mayors Wellness
Campaign. "The fourteen towns that participated really stepped up and we were
astounded by the number of individuals who decided to take control of their
lives and join the Toxic Waistlines competition."

Parsippany Mayor Michael Luther added, "I am proud of our town. Our residents
really worked hard to achieve this well-deserved honor. Healthy lifestyles and
community fitness are important elements to the well being of any town."

"This proves once again that when people are given the right tools and the
right motivation, they will take control of their health," said David
Knowlton, President and CEO of the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute
(NJHCQI), the sponsoring agency of the Mayors Wellness Campaign. "We could not
be more pleased with the results - not just for the winners, but for every
town and every individual which made the decision to do something to better
their health."

The "Toxic Waistlines" contest was a 100-day challenge that kicked off on
March 1st, "National Nutrition Month," and ended on June 2nd, the beginning of
"Great Outdoors Month." Sponsored by the National Strategies to Overcome and
Prevent (STOP) Obesity Alliance (www.stopobesityalliance.org) and the Mayors
Wellness Campaign (www.mayorswellnesscampaign.org), the contest was open to
municipalities in Morris County.

Participants were urged to consult their doctor before participating in any
exercise program and were assisted by Toxicwaistlines.org, an interactive
website, where participants could retrieve healthy recipes, nutritional
information, and learn of events in their municipalities.

Each of the municipalities participating in the "Toxic Waistlines" contest
received all the tools they needed to operate the program, including a scale
and tape measure for weigh-ins and weigh-outs, information from the official
website using "weblog" for tracking progress and sharing diet and exercise
ideas, and support from a registered nutritionist from the College of Saint
Elizabeth in Morristown, New Jersey.

The fourteen municipalities participating in the "Toxic Waistlines" contest
were Boonton, Chatham, Denville, Lincoln Park, Long Hill, Madison, Mine Hill,
Montville, Morris Plains, Mount Arlington, Parsippany-Troy Hills, Pequannock,
Washington, and Wharton. Each community also received a $500 grant for
participating in the program.

About the Mayors Wellness Campaign

The MWC is an initiative of the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute in
partnership with the New Jersey State League of Municipalities. Through
public-private partnerships, the MWC provides structure and resources for
healthy community initiatives, with a long-term goal of reducing health care
and other costs secondary to obesity and inactivity. The MWC supports mayors
as champions of community health. By encouraging mayors to play a leadership
role in supporting local opportunities for active, healthy lifestyles, the
intent of the MWC is to improve health and make New Jersey a national leader
in community-based health interventions. Currently, more than half of the New
Jersey's 566 municipalities are participating in the campaign and are working
aggressively to decrease obesity rates and increase the overall health of
their communities.

About the STOP Obesity Alliance

The Strategies to Overcome and Prevent (STOP) Obesity Alliance is a
collaboration of consumer, provider, government, labor, business, health
insurers, and quality-of-care organizations united to drive innovative and
practical strategies that combat obesity. The Alliance is sponsored by
Sanofi-Aventis U.S. LLC, a world leader in the pharmaceutical industry with a
commitment to improving public health and a heritage in therapeutic areas
including cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.

CONTACT: Emily Littman at 609-393-4931 or Donald Sico at 856-314-8066

SOURCE Mayors Wellness Campaign

Emily Littman, +1-609-393-4931 or Donald Sico, +1-856-314-8066