Governor asks others to join in weight-loss effort

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Posted 8:11AM on Monday, February 3, 2003

ATLANTA - Gov. Sonny Perdue wants to drop 20 pounds this year. He hopes state workers will follow his lead. Perdue was expected to challenge state employees to join him in a weight-loss program this week, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported in Monday's papers. "The governor has said for a long time the state needs to go... on a financial diet, but it also needs a healthy diet," Perdue spokesman Erin O'Brien told the newspaper. "High health care costs are part of what's driving the state budget (shortfall)." February is American Heart Month, and Perdue decided it's a good time to kick off "The Gov.'s Capitol Challenge: Fitness on Our Minds," O'Brien said. Perdue will give the state's 103,000 employees a couple of days to decide whether they want to take up his offer. He's also extending the challenge to department heads, state lawmakers, constitutional officers and Capitol reporters. Participants will be given a diet plan and more details on Friday, O'Brien said. The first weigh-in is tentatively planned for Feb. 10 at the state Capitol. O'Brien said Perdue, a former high school and college football player, weighs about 220 pounds.