The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston) and the city of Brownsville are preparing to host The Challenge – RGV, an annual event focused on promoting health and well-being in the community. This initiative, now in its 16th year, is set to begin on January 11 in Brownsville and January 25 in Edinburg.
The event encourages participants to make sustainable lifestyle changes by providing three months of free access to gyms, exercise classes, health screenings, cooking classes, motivational text messaging, and organized fun runs or walks on local trails and parks. The first kickoffs and weigh-ins will occur from 9 a.m. to noon at Linear Park in Brownsville on January 11 and at Edinburg City Hall Courtyard on January 25. Additional registration opportunities will be available across nine partner communities.
The Challenge – RGV was established to tackle high obesity rates in the Rio Grande Valley region, which contribute significantly to chronic diseases like diabetes. Since its launch, nearly 15,000 individuals have participated, achieving a collective weight loss of approximately 23,000 pounds.
“Among the thousands who have completed the challenge over the years, 84% have lost weight and 8.5 pounds were the average amount of weight lost,” said Lisa Mitchell-Bennett, MPH, MA, senior project manager at the School of Public Health in Brownsville. “That’s huge because we know that losing just 5%-8% of your weight can reduce your risk for chronic diseases like diabetes by 50% and greatly improves your health. The challenge is not about losing – it’s about gaining well-being, energy, healthier habits, and participating in something positive and fun with your community.”
All events related to The Challenge – RGV are free for participants.
