Pound for Pounds: Dr. Ian Smith and the Challenge Walk Off

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IN THE TWO AND A HALF YEARS since Dr. Ian Smith helped kick off the 50 Million Pound Challenge on the National Mall, 1.4 million folks across the country have signed up to tackle their weight-loss goals at 50millionpounds.com. And, collectively, they've managed to drop nearly 5 million pounds.

While that's a solid start, it's not enough for New York-based Smith, who has made a career out of fighting obesity -- from taking part in VH1's "Celebrity Fit Club" to his books, including "The Fat Smash Diet" and "The 4 Day Diet." To keep momentum building, he's spearheading the Challenge Walk Off this Saturday. Mayors in cities nationwide are leading the treks, and Smith will be headed to Alexandria to join Mayor William Euille (and Rep. Jim Moran) during a day of free family fitness fun at the Charles Houston Recreation Center (901 N. Wythe St., 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Alexandriava.gov/recreation).

» EXPRESS: What is this Challenge Walk Off?
» SMITH: The idea is no one has had an organized walk for health and against obesity. There are walks for breast cancer and MS, but there's never been one for another big killer: obesity. It's not just walking for awareness, but helping solve the problem. So many people are deconditioned, and small steps can make a huge difference. They think they need to start running, and train for a marathon or triathlon to make a difference. Too many people try to do too much too fast.

» EXPRESS: What are the other biggest misconceptions about weight loss?
» SMITH: People think they can starve themselves to weight loss. The proper way is by changing behaviors, finding a support system and surrounding yourself with people who have a good attitude about nutrition. Weight loss can be contagious.

» EXPRESS: What about the Time cover story about exercise making us fat?
» SMITH: Nonsense. With all due respect to people trying to sell publications, you don't need to be a doctor to know that's wrong. Those kinds of headlines set us back, and it will take us 10 times longer to reach our goals. Most people don't want to exercise, so they see that and they glom on to it.

» EXPRESS: How did you come up with the 50 million number?
» SMITH: We wanted to have a concrete goal to strive for. If we could get 10 million people to lose 5 pounds, we'd be there. It had substance and was attainable but would require a sustained effort. We're at nearly 5 million pounds now, and it's growing like an exponential curve. We'll hit a critical mass and we'll get there.

» EXPRESS: People have heard they need to eat better and exercise more before. How do you get through to them?
» SMITH: I try to talk to people about the real reasons they're overweight. They're mostly psychological. It's emotional eating and stress eating. It's understanding why you're eating in the middle of the night and why you're resisting going for a walk. I never say it's easy. It's difficult, and it's a journey. And it's not just weight loss -- the kinds of behaviors we're promoting will increase their life span, allow them to live better lives and even help them financially.

» EXPRESS: How have you been motivated by all of the news about obesity continuing to grow?
» SMITH: The number that we spend on obesity -- over $140 billion a year -- is incredible. We're in the midst of health care reform, and that's where a lot of our money is going. Obesity is a disease that strikes everybody, all ages, races. Yet, it can never seem to get the alarmist pop of swine flu. Obesity kills many more people. We need to talk about what's difficult, talk about successes and keep people motivated.

» EXPRESS: You've written several successful diet books. What's your next one?
» SMITH: It's on happiness and how we can find it. When people focus on things that have more meaning, they will be more dedicated to getting healthy.

Photo at top by Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post; photo at left courtesy Dr. Ian Smith