The statewide Shrinkdown is over, and South Carolina is 74,147 pounds lighter, but first lady Jenny Sanford is encouraging the state to keep its losing trend going through her Healthy SC Challenge initiative. It's just the sort of reminder this state needs if it's going to get off the list of the nation's least healthy states.

Sanford started the Healthy SC Challenge to encourage South Carolinians to live healthier lives. Its goal is to raise awareness by pitting the state's 46 counties against one another in a challenge to see which can most improve its health in three categories -- nutrition, exercise and smoking cessation. The winning county will be invited to an open house at the Governor's Mansion. She promoted the effort in a message congratulating statewide Shrinkdown participants.

In that event, 11 local YMCAs showed what South Carolinians can do when 25,315 people lost weight together in an event that began in Greenville.

Obesity and the lack of physical activity are serious problems with serious consequences. The state ranks in the top five nationally for diabetes, prostate cancer and stroke deaths -- all of which can be related to obesity.

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That's why these two efforts are so important. Healthy SC Challenge and Shrinkdown benefit everyone by helping all South Carolinians live healthier lives.