If two-thirds of the people in Vicksburg and Warren County shed half-a-pound by the end of January, a weight-loss challenge led by a local fitness club owner will be complete.

Linda Fondren, owner of Shape Up Sisters on South Frontage Road, is challenging the community to lose 17,000 pounds in 17 weeks. She’s calling the effort Shape Up Vicksburg.

“We have a problem in this community, and it needs to be addressed,” Fondren said. “We’re known as the fattest state in the nation. I want us to be known as the fittest.”

A kickoff is set for Oct. 17 at Vicksburg Convention Center. Participants can sign up for the challenge and weigh in. River Region Medical Center will be on site to offer free nutritional counseling and health assessments, such as blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes checks. Other businesses will be on hand to assist.

Fondren, who has brought her plan to the Warren County Board of Supervisors and the Vicksburg Board of Mayor and Aldermen, arrived at the number 17,000 through simple arithmetic.

She took the total population of Warren County, which is about 50,000, and multiplied it by two-thirds — which equals 33,000. She divided that number in half and arrived at the estimated 17,000.

The Centers for Disease Control said in a 2008 report, “Mississippi: Burden of Chronic Diseases,” that two-thirds of Mississippians are obese. Fondren used that number in her calculations.

Obesity is measured by a person’s body mass index, or BMI. A BMI of more than 40 means a person is overweight by 100 pounds. A normal BMI for a woman is between 18 and 25, said Fondren.

Fondren’s program, she says, is using “baby steps” to help people lose weight.

“We need to stop the trend of gaining weight first,” she said. “Half-of-a-pound is obtainable.”

She blames weight gain on poor eating habits and a lack of physical activity.

During the 17-week challenge, Fondren will open her gym, free of charge, to participants. She is also working with other gyms to offer free workout sessions during the challenge.

A biweekly weigh-in station will be set up at gyms and doctors’ offices.

“We got a big task ahead of us, but I know we can do it,” Fondren said.

Contact Manivanh Chanprasith at mchan@vicksburgpost.com