AARP/Blue Zones Vitality Project launches "6 Weeks to Longevity" program

Visit AARP.org/BlueZonesProject to Sign Up, Take the Vitality Compass and Learn the Secrets to Living Longer, Better

People don't want to just live longer; they want to live healthier and more purposeful lives. Now, through the AARP(R)/Blue Zones(R) Vitality Project sponsored by United Health Foundation, people from across America will have the opportunity to add healthy years to their lives by joining the project at AARP.org/BlueZonesProject and signing up for the "6 Weeks to Longevity," which kicks off on September 8, 2009.

One small town, Albert Lea, Minn., has been working hard since January 2009 to prove that by making a few simple changes, a community can add years and purpose to its residents' lives. Now, others can join the last six weeks of the unprecedented AARP(R)/Blue Zones(R) Vitality Project and learn easy ways to strive for additional good, healthy years of life.

All participants registered for the AARP(R)/Blue Zones(R) Vitality Project will be a part of the "6 Weeks to Longevity" initiative. The six-week online experience will include a comprehensive lifestyle makeover, with each week focusing on a key area of attaining longevity.

"By staying active and living with purpose, AARP's 40 million members demonstrate every day that age is not a defining number," said Nancy Graham, Editor of AARP The Magazine. "This collaboration is a unique opportunity to show America that they have a say in determining how many good years they will have in their lives, and offers them the tools to extend that time."

The "6 Weeks to Longevity" will focus on:

Week 1 Live Longer, Better - Introducing Blue Zones and the Vitality Compass

Week 2 Creating Your Longevity Circle - Creating and improving your social networks

Week 3 Rethinking How You Eat - Making food choices that will extend your longevity

Week 4 Mindless Moving - Build physical activity and movement into your everyday life

Week 5 Finding Purpose - Identifying your life's purpose can also extend it

Week 6 Making Your Community Healthier - Changing your community's walkability, bikeability and food options can encourage good behaviors

"Improving health is not just about what we eat and how much we move." said Dan Buettner, founder of Blue Zones. "Albert Lea residents have learned that it's about who we hang out with, about having strong social networks and about an entire community effort. Now it is time to teach America those same lessons."

To get involved in the AARP(R)/Blue Zones(R) Vitality Project go to AARP.org/BlueZonesProject and take the Vitality Compass(R) - an interactive tool that measures an individual's projected life expectancy based on current behaviors. Additionally, the site will provide the number of extra years people can add to their lives if they optimize their lifestyle. Participants can then enroll in the Vitality Coach(R), which offers personalized emails to help them make healthy changes to their habits.

"The United Health Foundation supports projects that can strengthen the health of a community, while actively engaging its citizens," said Daniel Johnson, Executive Director of the United Health Foundation. "The AARP(R)/Blue Zones(R) Vitality Project is one way that individuals can take a novel and innovative approach to improving health through small, meaningful changes."