October 14, 2009

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 12:10 p.m. ET

ALBERT LEA, Minn. (AP) -- Hardware store owner and heart attack survivor Leo Aeikens spent most of his life with a hankering for meat, cheese and ice cream. But an ambitious effort aimed at making his entire southern Minnesota city healthier has Aeikens calling himself a vegan and weighing 25 pounds less in just 10 months.

The 69-year-old's radical lifestyle change came as part of the ''Vitality Project,'' an endeavor spearheaded by adventurer and travel writer Dan Buettner and funded by AARP and United Health Foundation. Organizers say the project has added several years to the lives of Albert Lea residents through improved diet, exercise and living habits.

With organizers' help, the city crammed five years of sidewalk and bike trail construction into a year to make exercise easier for its 18,000 residents. Restaurants added healthier menu options and grocery stores showcased wholesome foods. People snacked on fruits and veggies and ate less fast food.

Schools stopped celebrating birthdays with sugary treats and started setting up ''walking buses'' that allowed kids to walk to and from school together with adult supervision. Employers gave workers time to exercise.

Organizers said the first-of-its kind experiment added an average 3.1 years to the expected longevity of participating residents as calculated by something called a ''vitality compass,'' an interactive tool in which participants answered 35 lifestyle questions.

Buettner hatched the idea and oversaw the project after identifying five areas around the world where people tend to live longer and healthier lives, research he documented in a 2008 book, ''The Blue Zones.''

The key for Albert Lea was getting the community behind a goal that was not just about weight loss, but also about fostering family relationships, a sense of purpose and healthy living habits, Buettner said.

Bob Furland, manager of the city's two ice rinks, said he and his wife used to grab fast food several times a week while shuttling two teenagers to sports and school activities. Now, they plan meals and keep fruits and vegetables around for snacking. They planted a vegetable garden and take regular evening walks together.

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