Starting today, Americans will have the opportunity to team up and compete in a nationwide effort to lose over 1 million pounds.

Who:

MSN Health & Fitness and NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” today announced “The Biggest Loser” Million Pound Match-Up, a challenge to America to lose 1 million pounds during the course of the show “The Biggest Loser: Couples.”

What:

From Jan. 1 to March 11, 2008, Americans will have the opportunity to register with a workout partner on BiggestLoser.msn.com and compete in “The Biggest Loser” Million Pound Match-Up, inspired by NBC’s “The Biggest Loser: Couples.” Participants will be able to test their fitness knowledge and receive expert fitness advice from “The Biggest Loser” trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels as well as from MSN Health & Fitness experts, and will have the chance to win daily prizes. Using Windows Live Spaces, participants can document their weight loss journey, connect with other participants in their area and help support each other in a virtual community. The top five teams will win a trip to Los Angeles for NBC’s “The Biggest Loser: Couples” finale, and the winning team will get a luxury fitness trip for two and a personal trainer for a year.

Why:

To help inspire and motivate Americans, MSN Health & Fitness is teaming up with NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” to launch “The Biggest Loser” Million Pound Match-Up to help provide a setting where Americans can join with a partner to lose weight and have fun while they do it.

Where:

Participants can visit http://biggestloser.msn.com to review full rules and details and sign up for the sweepstakes. Representatives of MSN and “The Biggest Loser” will be touring five cities— Chicago, Houston, Miami, Wichita, Kan., and Mesa, Ariz. — to help raise awareness of obesity in the United States, promote the sweepstakes and encourage Americans to participate.