Registration begins Tuesday, December 28. All interested participants should go to www.discovery.com/health to register for the NATIONAL BODY CHALLENGE. Once registered, participants have the choice of making an appointment online to weigh in at a Discovery Channel store on Saturday, January 15, or Sunday, January 16, or weighing in from the comfort of their own home.

Whether participants weigh in at a Discovery Channel store or log their weight online, they will receive a “get fit” gift, which includes the following: a free 8-week Bally Total Fitness® trial membership valid from January 15-March 12, 2005, a nutrition and fitness journal, a FitTV DVD and coupons. In addition, participants will have access to free online diet and nutrition resources that provide tools, information and inspiration to lose weight and get fit. After eight weeks of developing a healthy routine, participants weigh out on Monday, March 12, to measure their progress.

As part of the NATIONAL BODY CHALLENGE, Discovery Health Channel will run an eight-week television series, which premieres Wednesday, January 19, at 10 PM (ET/PT). The series is designed to keep participants and viewers on track by sharing the hurdles and successes of six individuals who struggle with significant weight issues.

This year’s NATIONAL BODY CHALLENGE television series takes an in-depth look at obesity in America with six portraits of personal transformation with two “bookend” episodes that begin by explaining the “Skinny on Fat” and conclude the series with “Keeping It Off.” These emotional stories motivate and educate viewers and participants to stay on track to reach and maintain their goals.

“The NATIONAL BODY CHALLENGE initiative and television series inspires people to discover a healthier version of themselves,” says Eileen O’Neill, Discovery Health Channel’s senior vice president and general manager. “Clearly, the overwhelming success of our first challenge proved that people want to be healthy, and we’re committed to giving them the tools to do so this year.”

The National Body Challenge, which provides a weight-loss and fitness program personalized to every individual free of charge, was developed with the advice of Dr. Pamela Peeke and in partnership with the American Diabetes Association and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

“I have watched hundreds of people try a variety of weight-loss programs, often with minimal success,” says Dr. Peeke, NATIONAL BODY CHALLENGE medical advisor, who is an expert in the fields of nutrition, metabolism, stress and fitness. “By integrating all elements of weight loss and fitness—exercise, food and emotion—and providing tools, advice and encouragement along the way, the NATIONAL BODY CHALLENGE made an enormous impact on thousands of Americans in 2004 and will do so with even greater force in 2005.”

NATIONAL BODY CHALLENGE is produced for the Discovery Health Channel by KPI. Bill Hunt and Kristy Sabat are executive producers. Executive producer for Discovery Health Channel is Claire Vande Polder.

NATIONAL BODY CHALLENGE is made possible by Secret Anti-perspirant, Kellogg's Special K, Bally Total Fitness® and Smart Spot™ from PepsiCo.

Discovery Health Channel takes viewers inside the fascinating and informative world of health and medicine to experience firsthand compelling, real-life stories of medical breakthroughs and human triumphs. Currently in more than 55 million homes, Discovery Health Channel is the only 24-hour network and Web site (discovery.com/health) devoted to what matters most—health.

© 2005 HealthNewsDigest.com