Columbia (MD) Alumni Chapter - Health and wellness Initiative

The Columbia (MD) Alumni chapter kicked of a “Health and Wellness Campaign at its annual retreat in April.  The campaign’s purpose is to raise the general health awareness and to impact health of chapter members and their families through education and participation.  Particular focus is being placed on the lethal effects of Hypertension, Diabetes, and Obesity in African American families.

The campaign has several key objectives, it seeks to:

• Raise awareness of risks associated with being overweight such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer


• Achieve a 10% decrease in the collective chapter body weight over a 12 month period


• Improve chapter member’s body mass index. (Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to both adult men and women.)



Members are encouraged to consult with their physician or other health care professional about controlling weight before dieting and weigh in monthly at chapter meetings and where progress is tracked individually. 

The chapter membership committee has created an electronic newsletter that provides information regarding weight control and health issues relevant to African American men and women, a calendar of community events, recipes, and other helpful information.  The committee also identifies community resources and other programs available to members.