For Details, Contact:
Becky Kenny
Media Relations
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico
505-816-2012 or 505-999-8806
Albuquerque, New Mexico, July 11, 2007 – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico (BCBSNM) has formed a partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and DrTango, Inc., to launch a one-year study involving the evaluation of a culturally and linguistically appropriate online diet and weight-loss program for Hispanics called Mi Dieta. BCBSNM is currently recruiting participants for the free study. Enrollment is for a limited time and interested individuals may take the short, confidential survey at www.bajadepesohoy.com.
Participants must be Hispanic or Latino, at least 18 years of age, overweight, and preferably an Internet user; however, a limited number of off-line participants are also needed for the study. Participants do not need to be enrolled in a BCBSNM insurance plan. Those chosen for the study will receive interactive dietary and fitness evaluations throughout the program, weekly diet and health email newsletters, daily tips on diet and fitness, hundred of recipes, personalized and customized diet and fitness plans, help with goal setting and progress tracking, weekly shopping lists, and access to bilingual dietitians by phone and email.
"Obesity is a major and growing problem among Hispanics in New Mexico, causing serious risk for diabetes and other diseases. It is currently estimated that 70% of Mexican Americans are overweight or obese," stated Alfonso Trujillo, Director of Marketing Promotion and Community Relations. "Mi Dieta has been helping Hispanics lose weight and improve their overall health with programs developed by Hispanics for Hispanics. Blue Cross is happy to bring this award-winning program to our state, for the benefit of New Mexicans."
Mi Dieta was selected by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as a "Top 20 Most Innovative Health Promotion and Disease Preventions Applications" in the country in 2004 and has been scientifically evaluated through a large, ongoing randomized trial funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Heath eTechnology Initiative.
For further information about the program, call Mi Dieta toll-free at 1-877-469-3438. For questions about the BCBSNM involvement in the study, call Manny Padilla at 505-816-4361.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico is a Division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
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