Albert Lea Summary Page

The First Blue Zones Community

A prototype Blue Zones community transformation program, sponsored by AARP and the United Health Foundation, was completed in Albert Lea, MN in 2009 with fantastic results.

Using secrets from cultures where people live the longest, the mission of the project was to add healthy years to an entire town by weaving the Blue Zones principles into every aspect of the community restaurants, businesses, schools, homes, and everyday lives.

This community program focused on environmental interventions across four domains: Community, Social Networks, Habitat and Inner Self. Blue Zones worked with Albert Lea’s leaders to transform the way the residents eat, work, exercise, and play.

The Success Story

The ultimate goal: for the people of Albert Lea to adopt these healthy habits so naturally, so painlessly, they wouldnâ€™t even realize how radically they were changing their lives.

Blue Zones helped Albert Lea amend school and workplace wellness policies, revised restaurant menu and vending machine offerings, added community gardens, held purpose workshops, created walking clubs and walking school buses and built new hiking trails.

Over 25% of the population participated in the program
Restaurants changed their menus to offer many more healthy choices
Schools implemented seven wellness policy changes to reduce snack foods and increase activity
Businesses changed their environment & policies to encourage healthier behaviors
Volunteers planted 70 community gardens
Biking and hiking paths were connected through-out the community to encourage more walking social groups called "Walking Moais"

Their Results in 2009

Life expectancy increased an average of 3.2 years
Participants lost an average of 3 lbs each
Albert Lea received extensive media attention for its work
Employers reported a 21% drop in absenteeism
City employees showed a 49% decrease in health care costs
Kids walked more, due to a "walking school bus" system that had kids walking the last mile to school every day under the supervision of parent and senior volunteers.