In the midst of a national obesity crisis, University Medical Center is hosting a series of fitness workshops to help people burn off excess fat and make healthier life choices.

The Tucson Challenge Workshop is the first of four monthly fitness seminars for the general public that emphasize weight loss and health maintenance by making long-term lifestyle changes.

"We are helping people join together to lose weight," said Lauve Metcalfe, Tucson Challenge coordinator.

According the National Institutes of Health's Web site, about 97 million adults in the United States are overweight or obese.

Metcalfe said obesity has become a national epidemic, and the programs were developed to address the problem head-on.

Held on the first Saturday of the month, each workshop will address four key components to losing weight and maintaining a balanced lifestyle, said Metcalfe, director of program development at the Center for Physical Activity and Nutrition at the UA College of Medicine.

Individual programs focus on different aspects of overall well-being, such as physical activity, proper food planning, mind/body fitness and support, Metcalfe said.

One topic will be covered in-depth at each meeting, while the other three components will be discussed in their relation to the main topic, she said.

However, she said improving overall health and fitness is often developed with peer support because some people have more positive results when they are accountable to both a program and other people.

"It's a difficult thing to lose weight on your own," Metcalfe said.

Metcalfe said the workshops are focused on themes of promoting healthy eating habits and increased physical activity.

In addition to physical training, experts will be on hand to discuss issues of portion control and the importance of basic physical activities, such as walking and strength conditioning, she said.

Representatives from Performance Footwear will also attend the seminars to discuss how important selecting the right shoes can be when improving an exercising experience.

"We want to give them the skill development they need to be successful," Metcalfe said.

She said people who make small changes in their lifestyle choices now should yield positive results in the future.

"Our goal is slow, permanent weight loss," she said.

A number of community organizations are sponsoring the Tucson Challenge Workshop, including PacifiCare, College of Medicine, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the Carondelet Foundation and UMC.

The cost of the four-workshop series is $20 per person, or $10 per workshop for those who cannot attend the whole series.

The series will be held in DuVal Auditorium at the UMC, 1501 North Campbell Ave., from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.