MILLIONS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS AT INCREASED RISK FOR -1)

(Philadelphia—July 19)  About 40 percent of adults ages 40 to 74 – or 41 million people -- have 
pre-diabetes, a condition that raises a person’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. 
African Americans are twice as likely as whites of similar age to develop diabetes.  To help reduce this
potential epidemic, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) National Diabetes Education
Program (NDEP) launched a public awareness campaign today called “More Than 50 Ways to Prevent
Diabetes” with Philadelphia’s Fun, Fit & Free! healthy lifestyle program.  The campaign delivers the
message that African Americans can prevent type 2 diabetes. The event took place at the North Philadelphia
Seventh-Day Adventist Church, where the city’s model healthy lifestyle program is based.  
 
“More than 50 Ways to Prevent Diabetes” is part of NDEP’s Small Steps. Big Rewards. Prevent type 2
Diabetes campaign, which targets groups at high risk for diabetes.  The “More than 50 Ways” campaign uses
humorous rhymes to encourage lifestyle change, such as “Less on your plate, Nate” and “Dance it away,
Faye.”  These messages are offered on motivational tip sheets, radio and print public service advertisements,
and posters.  More than 200 public and private partners will help to distribute the materials throughout the
country.
 
“We are asking African Americans to find out if they are at risk for type 2 diabetes, and we’re showing them
how to take action to prevent it,” said HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson.  “The key is regular physical
activity and modest weight loss—as little as 5 to 7 percent of your body weight.  I want to encourage people
to take this message of good health to their families and their communities, so we can put an end to the
diabetes epidemic.” 
 
Philadelphia native Frenchy Risco is a member of NDEP’s “Small Steps. Big Rewards. Team to Prevent type
2 Diabetes.”  This team was assembled by NDEP to put a human face on the populations that are at high risk
for the disease. Each member is actively working in his or her community to prevent diabetes.   Mr. Risco
recently graduated from the Fun, Fit & Free! cooking class and is one of the city’s lay healthy cooking chefs. 
 
Risco’s healthy life choices came as a result of taking a six-week course offered by the Fun, Fit & Free!
program.  Created by the City of Philadelphia as a public-private partnership, the program helps city residents
lose weight through free cooking classes, walking tours, and healthy food menus. The program has been
lauded by Secretary Thompson as a “fun and challenging” way for city residents to learn to incorporate
physical activity into their daily routines and to make wise food choices.