Mission Health joins forces Ingles Supermarkets to fight obesity in WNC

Press release

From Mission Health

Mission Health Partners with Ingles Supermarkets to Fight Obesity in Western North Carolina
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (April 24, 2013) – Mission Health empowers thousands of people in western North Carolina to live healthier lives through its wellness programs and now extends these activities beyond its own walls to corporations by partnering with the region’s largest employers.

Responding to statistics that show more than 60 percent of western North Carolina adults are overweight, Mission Health announces a partnership with Ingles Markets and its 21,000 employees in 204 stores across six states. Together, Mission Health and Ingles will offer a free, community-wide challenge, called Lighten Up for Life (LU4L), designed to help people improve their overall health by losing weight.

“Supporting efforts to improve the health of our communities is central to our mission,” said Stephanie Kiser, RPh, Executive Director of Community Health & Corporate Wellness at Mission Hospital. “Focusing on healthier lifestyles and increased accessibility to options that promote health and wellness are key elements to achieving measureable results and changes that create long-lasting health improvement.”

This partnership means that two of western North Carolina’s largest employers are coming together to combat increasing obesity rates in the region. More than 30 percent of adults in western North Carolina have a BMI of greater than 30. The mean estimated prevalence of obesity among adults in western North Carolina has increased annually since 2005, according to research conducted by WNC Healthy Impact.
Mission Health will hold health events at Ingles Markets’ corporate offices, distribution center, Milkco plant and many of their stores throughout western North Carolina. Mission Health will also host booths at each health event to provide education on topics like blood pressure, BMI, cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, sleep health and stress.

“Ingles Markets understands the importance of good health as the foundation for a productive life at home and at work,” said Ron Freeman, Chief Financial Officer of Ingles Markets. “We are proud to offer this program to our associates and their families to help them achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle. As the area’s largest employers, it is important for Ingles Markets and Mission Health to set a good example for our community as we strive to improve the health of our region – one employee at a time.”

The Ingles LU4L program will launch on April 29. Ingles employees can enroll now at http://lightenup4life.com/Ingles. Others who are interested in participating on their own or with their own team may do so by registering at http://lightenup4life.com/mission.

About Mission Health
Mission Health, based in Asheville, N.C., is the state’s sixth-largest health system and the region’s only not-for- profit, independent community hospital system governed and managed exclusively in western North Carolina. Mission Health was recognized as one of the nation’s Top 15 Health Systems in 2012 and 2013 by Thomson Reuters and Truven Health Analytics, respectively. Mission Health is one of only two medium-sized health systems to receive this recognition in 2012 and 2013, and the only health system in North Carolina to achieve that distinction.

Mission Health, which traces its roots in the region back to 1885, operates five hospitals, numerous outpatient and surgery centers and the region’s only dedicated Level II trauma center. Its medical staff consists of more than 1,000 physicians and is certified in more than 50 medical specialties and sub-specialties. Mission Health has seven Centers of Excellence: Cancer, Heart, Mission Children’s Hospital, Neurosciences, Orthopedics, Trauma and Women’s Health. Mission Hospital, located in Asheville, is the system’s flagship hospital and is licensed for 730 beds. It is the regional referral center for tertiary and quaternary care. It also includes Mission Children’s Hospital – the region’s only children’s hospital. Other Mission Health member hospitals include Angel Medical Center in Franklin, Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Spruce Pine, McDowell Hospital in Marion and Transylvania Regional Hospital in Brevard. With approximately 8,800 employees and 700 volunteers, Mission Health is dedicated to improving the health and wellness of the people of western North Carolina. For more information, please visit mission-health.org.

About Ingles Markets
Ingles Markets, Incorporated is a leading supermarket chain with operations in six southeastern states. Headquartered in Asheville, North Carolina, the Company operates 204 supermarkets. In conjunction with its supermarket operations, the Company also operates 69 neighborhood shopping centers, all but 12 of which contain an Ingles supermarket. The Company’s Class A Common Stock is traded on The NASDAQ Stock Market’s Global Select Market under the symbol IMKTA. For more information, visit Ingles’ website at www.ingles- markets.com.

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