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Rather than asking people to increase their will power, the Blue Zones Community model works to improve environments. Little changes to your home, work, school, social, physical, and policy environments can make healthy choices the easy choices so that well-being improves naturally.

Putting it all Together

The Blue Zones Community model coordinates strong existing programs, brings in experts to inspire, train and provide innovative best practices, and ultimately organizes programs to provide greater options for physical, emotional, and social health. Read more about specific activities here. Ten communities that demonstrate the greatest passion, interest and ability to bring their community together will receive assistance from national experts to develop and implement a blueprint for making permanent environment, policy and social network changes that transition people into healthier behaviors.

Yes. In Albert Lea, Minnesota; and the cities of Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach (also known as Beach Cities) in California.

Albert Lea was the first proto-type community to embrace Blue Zones principles. In Albert Lea, Blue Zones worked with local government and community leaders for more than a year. Together they designed and implemented large and small-scale environmental and policy changes to encourage residents to adopt and maintain healthier lifestyles. Additionally, efforts were made to develop the social, commercial, communal, and professional networks needed to support these changes. This collective effort resulted in:

• An average weight loss of two pounds for every Albert Lea resident
• An increase in average life expectancy of 3.1 years
• A 20 percent reduction in absenteeism for key employers
• A community-wide effort that actively engaged 60% of the city’s restaurants, 51% of its employers,100% of its schools, and 27% of its citizens