Category: Factual
& Arts TV
Date: 04.11.2004
Printable version
The residents
of Handsworth Wood, Birmingham are feeling fitter and happier following
their involvement in the Â鶹Éç's Fat Nation – The Big Challenge.
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In focussing on an average street, featuring a whole
range of different characters, Fat Nation – The Big Challenge tackled
a variety of health and weight related issues and confronted all the
problems associated with obesity, such as diabetes, cancer and heart
disease.
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Resident Semra Kormucugil has lost a total of 11 1bs
during the nine weeks that the TV series has been on air and even goes
as far to say that Fat Nation "has changed her life!"
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She claims that she hasn't felt bloated for ages because
she knows when to stop eating and as a result feels slimmer, healthier
and more confident.
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Gurdhip Chagger is another happy resident who has been
profoundly affected by Fat Nation – The Big Challenge.
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Having lost 12 lbs she says she feels incredibly empowered,
not just in terms of making changes in her own life – she also
wants to help others do the same.
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She's had an idea to start a group for Asian women in
order to give them a louder voice and learn how to stand up for themselves.
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The Â鶹Éç ONE series, Fat Nation – The Big Challenge
presented by Matt Allwright and Georgie Windsor, kicked
off a major new learning initiative across Â鶹Éç Television, bbc.co.uk,
Â鶹Éç Radio and Â鶹Éç interactive services to help the nation take simple
steps towards living a fitter and healthier life.
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Viewers have been encouraged to join in with the Fat
Nation challenges by accessing personalised health and exercise plans
via interactive television, SMS or bbc.co.uk.
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To date more than 84,000 people have signed up for personal
lockers on bbc.co.uk/bigchallenge.
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The site has attracted around 450,000 unique users and
three million page impressions since the programme launched.
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In addition there has been a huge response for Fat Nation
– Big Challenge packs with nearly a quarter of a million orders.
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Communities across Britian have been encouraged to take
part and improve the health of the nation – with Â鶹Éç Local Radio
leading the way.
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Â鶹Éç Radio Cornwall and Â鶹Éç Radio Devon
pitted two familes against one another whilst they followed the challenges
set out in the TV programme.
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Â鶹Éç Radio Norfolk ran workshops in the community
on how to eat healthily on a pension and Â鶹Éç Radio Solent organised
a 'Big Dance' to encourage listeners to loose weight through dancing.
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Liz Cleaver, Controller, Â鶹Éç Learning and Interactive,
says: "We are delighted that so many people across the UK have
taken part in the first stages of the campaign which continues on throughout
2005.
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"In January we will be mounting a series of road
shows across the UK and next year there will be new programmes and new
events to continue to inspire people to get healthy."
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The final Fat Nation – The Big Challenge can be
seen tonight, Thursday 4 November, at 8.30 pm on Â鶹Éç ONE with Fat
Nation on Three at 9.00pm on Â鶹Éç THREE.
