MIAMI, FL - (August 25, 2009) – Molina Healthcare and Florida International University (FIU) joined together on Monday, August 24 to successfully break the World Record for the most individuals to yo-yo simultaneously. Held on the FIU campus, Molina Healthcare and FIU gathered 557 participants to yo-yo simultaneously for two minutes to break the previous record of 493 yo-yoers set earlier this year.
“We are very excited about the record. But as a healthcare company, we are even more excited about the opportunity this event provided us to bring attention to the adverse effects of yo-yo dieting,” said Michael Siegel, M.D., Molina Healthcare’s Vice President/Medical Director. “In January, Men’s Health Magazine named Miami, Florida as the ‘fattest city’ in the nation, so FIU and Molina used the yo-yo and the world record event as a visual to provide education about living healthy lifestyles.”
According to a recent study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the proportion of U.S. adults who are obese increased to 26.1 percent in 2008 compared to 25.6 percent in 2007. Obesity is a major risk factor for many chronic diseases including heart disease and diabetes. As obesity increases among all age groups, health risks begin to affect the lives of the young adults.
“University departments and services aimed at helping students develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle were available for students at a health fair held before and after the world record attempt,” said Dr. Kenneth Jessell, FIU Chief Financial Officer. “Our students learned the importance of eating healthy as a lifestyle choice and the event was a great way to start the year off on the right foot.”
About Molina Healthcare
Molina Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE: MOH) is a multi-state managed care organization that arranges for the delivery of health care services to persons eligible for Medicaid, Medicare, and other government-sponsored programs for low-income families and individuals. Molina Healthcare's nine licensed health plan subsidiaries in California, Florida, Michigan, Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio, Texas, Utah, and Washington currently serve approximately 1.3 million members. More information about Molina Healthcare, Inc. can be obtained at www.molinahealthcare.com.
About Florida International University
Florida International University (FIU) was established in 1965 and is Miami’s only public research university. With a student body of more than 38,000, FIU graduates more Hispanics than any other university in the country. Its 17 colleges and schools offer more than 200 bachelors, masters and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations and law. FIU has been classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as a “High Research Activity University.” In 2006 FIU was authorized to establish a medical school, which will welcome its first class in 2009. FIU’s College of Law recently received accreditation in the fastest time allowed by the American Bar Association.
Contact:
Sunny Yu
Public Relations
Molina Healthcare, Inc.
(562) 477-1608