DETROIT – Health Alliance Plan (HAP) member Devria St. Aubin will be honored at the 17th annual ReMARKable Women Live Luncheon hosted by Florine Mark on Oct. 7, 2016. St. Aubin will be recognized for her extraordinary journey toward health by losing 68 pounds in 12 months with Weight Watchers®, a HAP member advantage program.
"I felt motivated to change my lifestyle because I am a breast cancer survivor," said St. Aubin. "I learned from my doctor that being overweight makes you more vulnerable to a recurrence, which led me to find a way to incorporate healthy eating habits and activity for the long–term. HAP's partnership with Weight Watchers made joining more affordable and accessible while giving me the support system I needed to reach my goals."
St. Aubin's dedication to a healthier lifestyle spurred other benefits beyond weight loss, including a 90–point drop in her cholesterol level, and the opportunity to again participate in activities that she enjoys, such as horseback riding.
According to the National Center for Chronic Disease Control's Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity (DNPAO), 66.1 percent of adults in Michigan are overweight. With HAP actively using the partnership with Weight Watchers, as of June 2016, 63,002 participants lost a total of 453,067 pounds. The average pounds lost with the Weight Watchers program is approximately 5.5 lbs. Losing a total of five pounds may seem small, but studies have shown losing even five pounds can drastically improve a person's health by lowering blood pressure, increasing energy, improving sleep and aid in preventing chronic diseases.
"Programs like Weight Watchers aid successful and sustainable interventions to support healthy eating and active living," said Vernal Tiller, Ph.D., associate vice president of quality and credentialing, Health Alliance Plan. "This luncheon is an excellent way to recognize everyone's efforts and give thanks for their dedication."
The keynote speaker for this year's ReMARKable Women event is Emmy–, Tony– and Golden Globe–nominated actress and singer Lainie Kazan. Kazan is often recognized from her role as the mother in the 2002 movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." Other special guest includes "The Queen of Motown" Martha Reeves, with additional entertainment provided by Cass Tech Jazz Band and Drag Queen Bingo, with Carol Lee.
This year's panel members, who will focus on topics related to women's issues, include: 100.3 WNIC's Kam Carman; WDIV–TV's Tati Amare and Paula Tutman; WJBK–TV's Monica Gayle; and WXYZ–TV's JoAnne Purtan, along with Reeves and Kazan.
Proceeds will benefit women's health initiatives at Beaumont Ministrelli's Women's Heart Center, The University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center, Henry Ford Hospital and the Michigan Ovarian Cancer Alliance.
About Health Alliance Plan
Health Alliance Plan www.hap.org (HAP) is a Michigan–based, nonprofit health plan that provides health coverage to more than 675,000 members and companies of all sizes. For more than 50 years, HAP has partnered with leading doctors and hospitals, employers and community organizations to enhance the health and well–being of the lives we touch. HAP offers a product portfolio with six distinct product lines: Group Insured Commercial, Individual, Medicare, Medicaid, Self–Funded and Network Leasing. HAP excels in delivering award–winning preventive services, disease management and wellness programs, and personalized customer service. For more information, visit hap.org.
About The Michigan Association of Health Plans (MAHP)
The Michigan Association of Health Plans (MAHP) is an industry voice for 14 health care plans, covering over 2.5 million Michigan residents, and 50 businesses affiliated with the health care industry. MAHP facilitates communication among members, government, and the industry regarding health care issues of common concern. The mission of MAHP is to provide leadership for the promotion and advocacy of high quality, affordable, accessible health care for the citizens of Michigan.
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Contacts:
Ebony Dooley
Health Alliance Plan
(248) 443-7847 office
edooley@hap.org
Katie Rebella
MCCI on behalf of HAP
(248) 318-4303 mobile
krebella@mccicorp.com