Episode 3 Part 2 | Mississippi's Big Problem | MPB

AND BETTER PRODUCTS MEAN MORE MONEY.
SOMETHING WE CAN ALL USE, RIGHT?
ESPECIALLY ONE COUPLE
ANTHONY AND JANELL EDWARDS.
LIVING IN ONE OF THE POOREST AND MOST OBESE
PLACES IN AMERICA, THE EDWARDS HAVE A PLAN.
THANKS!
THIS IS FAYETTE, MISSISSIPPI
THE COUNTY SEAT OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
HOME TO JUST OVER 2,000 PEOPLE
THIS IS A PLACE OF GREAT HISTORY AND ALSO ONE
OF GREAT POVERTY.
AND IT'S ALSO ONE OF THE FATTEST PLACES IN AMERICA.
ACCORDING TO FEDERAL STATISTICS,
ALMOST HALF THE POPULATION OF JEFFERSON COUNTY IS OBESE.
NOT OVERWEIGHT, OBESE.
BUT THAT STATISTIC WON'T BE A REALITY
FOR MUCH LONGER IF ONE FAYETTE COUPLE
HAS ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT IT.
OBESITY IS A BIG ISSUE HERE.
MEET JANELL EDWARDS.
SHE AND HER HUSBAND ANTHONY ARE THE BRAINS
AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE HEART BEHIND A PROGRAM
CALLED FAT TO FIT BASED IN MISSISSIPPI'S FATTEST COUNTY.
FAT TO FIT IS A PROGRAM WHERE WE ARE JUST TRYING
TO MOBILIZE AND ENCOURAGE THE RESIDENTS
OF JEFFERSON COUNTY TO BECOME FAT TO FIT.
AND FAT TO FIT IS A PROGRAM WHERE WE'RE
OFFERING INCENTIVE AND WE WEIGH IN,
WE ASSESS, WE TAKE MEASUREMENTS,
WE WALK.
WE'VE DEVELOPED WALK GROUPS AND THINGS
OF THAT NATURE.
Dr. DeShazo AND THESE SMALL BABY STEPS
ARE DESIGNED TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.
JANELL'S HUSBAND, ANTHONY, KNOWS WHAT HE'D LIKE
TO SEE HAPPEN.
IF WE COULD GET 10% OF THE POPULATION TO LOSE
OR TO GET HEALTHIER, THAT WOULD BE AN AWESOME DREAM,
IF WE COULD AFFECT JUST 10%.
Dr. DeShazo THE PROGRAM IS THE BRAINCHILD
OF JANELL AND ANTHONY, BOTH DRIVEN FOR DIFFERENT REASONS.
FAMILY IS BIG HERE AND THE REASON JANELL ACTUALLY
LIVES IN FAYETTE.
I MARRIED INTO A GREAT FAMILY HERE FROM FAYETTE,
JEFFERSON COUNTY.
I TELL PEOPLE THIS AND THEY LAUGH.
IN MY FAMILY, EITHER YOU'RE TALL OR YOU'RE WIDE.
SO UNFORTUNATELY, WE GOT THE HEIGHT AND THE WIDTH.
WE COME FROM SOME HEALTHY EATERS.
AND I TELL PEOPLE THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT US
AND IT'S SO FUNNY TO ME THAT WHEN I WOULD AND NOW THAT
I KNOW I'M MORBIDLY OBESE, BUT WHENEVER I GO TAKE A
PHYSICAL THE DOCTOR WOULD ALWAYS SAY MAN,
YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE IS GOOD,
EVERYTHING LOOKS GREAT.
BUT IN MY HEAD I'M HEALTHY BECAUSE THE DOCTOR SAID
I'M NOT STRUGGLING WITH NO HEALTH ISSUES,
BUT THE SCALE TELLS ME DIFFERENT
AND THE WAY I FEEL TELLS ME DIFFERENT.
Dr. DeShazo IT'S A LIFESTYLE THEY WERE BOTH
STUCK IN ALONG WITH JUST ABOUT EVERY OTHER PERSON
IN THEIR HOME COUNTY.
BUT BOTH ANTHONY AND JANELL CAN TELL YOU
THE MOMENT THEY KNEW THINGS HAD TO CHANGE.
BE CAREFUL WHO YOU LET PEOPLE TAKE YOUR PICTURE.
WE HAD NO IDEA.
WE HAD BEEN WORKING HARD THAT DAY AND I'LL NEVER
FORGET IT.
WE STOPPED TO GET SOME WATER AND SOME ICE
AND SOMETHING TO EAT.
JOE WAS THE LAST PERSON TO MAKE IT TO THE TRUCK
AND THE GUY WAS LIKE LET ME TAKE YOUR PICTURE.
AND HE TOOK JOE'S PICTURE.
JOE SMILED AND WE DIDN'T THINK NOTHING OF IT.
BUT A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER,
HE STARTED TO GET PHONE CALLS AND THEY WERE
SAYING, MAN YOU'RE ON THE FRONT PAGE
OF THE CLARION-LEDGER.
AT THE TIME, WE HAD NO IDEA THAT THE GUY
WAS DOING A STORY ABOUT JEFFERSON COUNTY
BEING THE FATTEST COUNTY.
WE JUST LAUGHED IT OFF, WE REALLY DIDNT REALLY THINK
NOTHING OF IT UNTIL THEY DID A STORY ON US ON CBS
CHANNEL 12, I BELIEVE.
THEY DID A STORY AND THEN IT HIT US.
IT HIT ME LIKE WOW.
WE IN BAD, WE'RE REALLY IN A BAD SITUATION
IN JEFFERSON OCUNTY.
AND HERE IT IS, MY BROTHER
IS THE POSTER BOY FOR JEFFERSON COUNTY.
IT WAS AMAZING TO SEE MYSELF
IN THIS NEWS ARTICLE.
AS I SAW THIS PICTURE, I KNEW
IT WAS A PROBLEM, LIKE "MAN ARE THEY
CONSIDERED ME AS THE FATTEST GUY
IN JEFFERSON COUNTY."
IT TOOK A TOLL ON ME.
I KNEW THEN THAT I HAD TO DO SOMETHING FOR MYSELF.
Dr. DeShazo AND WHAT JOSPEH STARTED DOING
WAS CHANGING HIS LIFE.
HE STARTED MOVING MORE, EATING LESS
EATING IN MORE HEALTHY WAYS
AND HE'S HAD SERIOUS RESULTS.
SO FAR, LOSING OVER 80 POUNDS.
BUT, JOSEPH HAS MORE BIG PLANS.
MY GOAL IS I WANT TO SEE 300 POUNDS.
THAT'S MY GOAL.
I JUST WANT TO BE HEALTHIER.
AND I'M BE ABLE TO.
I WANT TO AT LEAST BE ABLE TO JOG A MILE.
THAT'S MY GOAL.
Dr. DeShazo SO HOW DOES A GROUP OF PEOPLE
IN ONE OF MISSISSIPPI'S POOREST AND FATTEST COUNTIES
TRY TO TURN THINGS AROUND?
LOTS OF HARD WORK AND PERSONAL INVOLVEMENT.
IT'S PERSONAL FOR US.
WE'RE DEDICATED, FOCUSED TO ACTUALLY TURN
THIS THING AROUND AND IT HAS TO START WITH US.
AND IT'S AN ISSUE THAT WE'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT
BECAUSE IT'S PERSONAL.
NOBODY CAN TELL YOU WHAT TO EAT,
NOBODY CAN MAKE YOU EXERCISE YOUR BODY.
IT HAS TO BE PERSONAL SO AND IT STARTS WITH US.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE DOING DIFFERENT THINGS
IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT IT'S NOT DONE COLLECTIVELY.
YOU HAVE ONE PERSON DOING THIS AND YOU HAVE
ONE PERSON DOING THAT.
SO WE DECIDED TO PUT AN ORGANIZATION TOGETHER
WHERE WE BRING EVERYBODY IN,
LIKE MY WIFE SAID, WE'RE THE CONNECTOR.
WE'RE THE CONNECTION TO THE OTHER PIECES
THAT NEEDS TO BE INVOLVED IN WHAT WE'RE DOING.
WE WANT TO ESTABLISH A FARMER'S MARKET
HERE AS WELL.
WE ARE CONSIDERED A FOOD DESERT AND THAT MEANS
THAT TO GET AFFORDABLE FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES,
WE HAVE TO TRAVEL AT LEAST 10 PLUS MILES.
ACTUALLY, IT'S 20 PLUS FOR US.
AND SO WITH THAT, WE ALSO WANT TO CREATE
A SUSTAINABLE INCOME WITH TEACHING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE
THE LOGISTICS OF WORKING A BUSINESS.
AT THE SAME TIME, SHOWING THEM HOW TO PRODUCE
VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTS, HOW TO RUN A BUSINESS
CUSTOMER SERVICE, INVENTORY
HOW TO PLANT A GARDEN, HOW TO HARVEST
MANUFACTURE, ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
Dr. DeShazo AN AMAZING PLAN
BUT ONE THAT ISN'T GOING TO COME CHEAP.
AND IN AN AREA WHERE THE AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD INCOME
TIPTOES NEAR THE NATIONAL POVERY LEVEL
MONEY IS HARD TO COME BY.
THE AMERICAN BEVERAGE ASSOCIATION HAS DONATED
ALMOST $6,000, THAT WAS FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE
OF THE LEGALITIES OF THE LAND WHERE WE'RE PROPOSING
FOR THE FARMER'S MARKET TO GET DONE
AND WE WERE VERY GRATEFUL TO THEM FOR THAT.
BUT EVERYTING ELSE HAS JUST COME
FROM OUT OF POCKET, OUT OF THINGS WE'VE DONE.
PERSONAL INCOME, FAYETTE COMUNITY
JANELL EDWARDS, ANTHONY EDWARDS,
DEANNA EDWARDS, JOE EDWARDS
RACHEL OMARA, SHE'S AN EDWARDS, TOO
SHE'S MARRIED, BUT JUST OUR FAMILY.
HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK PERSONALLY YOU GUYS
HAVE PUT INTO THE PROGRAM?
IF I HAD TO TAKE A GUESSTIMATE
I WOULD SAY WELL OVER, AT THIS POINT
$10,000.
Dr. DeShazo IN ADDITION TO THE MONEY
THE EDWARDS HAVE DONATED THEIR LAND AS WELL.
A PORTION OF THAT LAND WILL BE USED TO HOUSE
THE FARMER'S MARKET AND MULTI-PURPOSE BUILDING.
THEY ALSO USE TWO OF THEIR OWN ACRES TO GROW FRESH
FRUITS AND VEGGIES AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE
IN THEIR COMMUNITY WHO WANTS TO COME OUT
AND DO SOME PICKING.
WHAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE IN HERE.
WE HAVE A DIFFERENT VARIETY OF PLANTS.
WE GOT SOME TOMATOES, WE GOT SOME POTATOES.
WE GOT SOME WATERMELONS.
WE HAVE PLENTY ROWS OF OKRA.
AND PURPLE HULL PEAS COMING UP
ON THE OTHER SIDE.
LAST YEAR WE HAD CUCUMBERS
WE HAD SQUASH, WATERMELON, CANTALOUPE
HONEYDEW, RED PEPPERS, JALAPENO PEPPERS
GREEN PEPPERS, PURPLE HULL PEAS
OKRA, CORN.
IT WAS REALLY MASSIVE.
BUT BECAUSE WE HAD MECHANICAL ISSUES
WE WERE JUST ABLE TO GET THIS PART DONE.
THE TRACTOR WENT DOWN.
THE OLD SOLDIER WENT DOWN!
I MEAN, YOU CAN'T EVEN COMPLAIN ABOUT THE TRACTOR
BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, MY FATHER AND MOTHER
BOUGHT THIS LAND 30 SOME ODD YEARS AGO.
DADDY GOT THE TRACTOR AND WE USE THE TRACTOR
FROM THE TIME HE GOT IT UP UNTIL A MONTH AGO.
Dr. DeShazo SO, LET'S ADD THIS UP.
THIS ONE FAMILY FROM ONE OF THE POOREST PLACES
IN OUR ENTIRE COUNTRY--
THIS IS OUR IRRIGATION SYSTEM!
Dr. DeShazo HAS NOW SACRIFICED
$10,000+ DOLLARS, A COUPLE OF ACRES OF LAND
A TRACTOR AND COUNTLESS HOURS.
WHY IN THE WORLD DO THEY DO IT?
THE BIBLE TELLS US WE'RE SUPPOSED TO LEAVE
AN INHERITANCE TO OUR CHILDREN.
I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ASSOCIATE THAT WITH MONEY
BUT IT'S ALSO HOW WE LIVE.
AND A PART OF IT IS HOW WE KEEP OUR BODIES,
KEEP OUR BODIES.
AND IT'S HEALTH, SO IF WE'RE NOT HEALTHY TO DO
THE WORK THEN HOW ARE WE BEING A ROLE MODEL
FOR OUR CHILDREN?
Dr. DeShazo AND SPEAKING OF KIDS
ONE OF THE EVENTS PUT ON BY THE EDWARDS
AND THEIR FAT TO FIT PROGRAM WAS A WALK-A-THON
AND 3-ON-3 BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT.
KIDS AND ADULTS FROM MISSISSIPPI
AND FURTHER AWAY SHOWED UP TO SHOW OFF.
AND WHEN THERE'S DANCING, DR. RICK IS THERE.
♪♪
THESE THREE GIRLS TRAVELED FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY
TO TAKE PART IN THE FAT TO FIT PROGRAM.
TWO ARE FROM MICHIGAN, ONE FROM GEORGIA.
I TALKED TO THEM A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THE DANCING WE JUST DID.
SO, WHAT YOU'VE DONE IS WORK MUSIC
AND FUN INTO WEIGHT CONTROL?
YEAH!
RIGHT!
AND WE PUT IT ALL TOGETHER INTO ONE.
YOU GOTTA MAKE IT FUN WITH THE MUSIC
THAT YOU DO WITH THAT.
BUT IF YOU PUT THAT TOGETHER
AND MAKE IT A FUN THING, HAVE FUN.
Dr. DeShazo AND THE PROGRAM WAS A LOT OF FUN.
I DANCED WELL, SORT OF.
♪♪
I PLAYED BASKETBALL EVER HEARD OF AN AIR-BALL?
I CAN ACTUALLY HIT IT SOMETIMES.
LET'S SEE YOU GUYS DO ONE.
I WALKED AND I LEARNED A LOT BOTH ABOUT
THE FAT TO FIT PROGRAM AND HOW THEY'RE BEING
AS JANELL SAYS, AN INSPIRATION TO THE NATION.
WE HAVE OVER 400 MEMBERS FROM ALL ACROSS THE NATION
THAT HAVE JOINED THE MOVEMENT.
AND WE'VE ACTUALLY STARTED TWO GROUPS
ONE IN INKSTER, MICHIGAN.
THEY DROVE.
THEY HAVE BEEN TRAINING.
THE DID A 6 WEEK WALK-A-THON IN MICHIGAN
TO TRAIN FOR THIS EVENT.
TO COME DOWN FOR THE WALK-A-THON.
NOW THEY SAY THEY'RE GONNA WIN
BUT WE DON'T, WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT.
AND THEN WE HAVE A GROUP
OUT OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA.
Dr. DeShazo SO, IT LOOKS LIKE
THE MOVEMENT IS CATCHING ON.
IF ONE SMALL, POOR TOWN CAN MAKE THIS MUCH
PROGRESS, THERE IS NO REASON THE REST
OF THE STATE CAN'T DO THE SAME.
BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE ASSISTANCE
THERE NEEDS TO BE SUPPORT.
SOMETHING THAT IS SPARSE AT THE MOMENT.
SPEAKING OF GOD, I SURE WOULD LIKE TO SEE
SOME OF YOUR PASTORS COMPETE.
I WOULD TOO!
SO WOULD I!
IN THE WORDS OF JENNIFER HUDSON
WHERE YOU AT?
THE ONLY PROGRAMS THAT HAVE COME
TO JEFFERSON COUNTY ARE THE PROGRAMS THAT INDIVIDUALS
IN JEFFERSON COUNTY HAVE TRIED TO START THEMSELVES.
NOT THE MILLION DOLLAR GRANTS
OR THE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLAR GRANTS.
THE WORLD NEEDS TO KNOW THAT WE WANT TO DO
SOMETHING ABOUT IT, BUT WE NEED HELP CAUSE WE CAN'T
DO IT BY OURSELVES.
WE NEED HELP.