New Wellness Brand Meta Challenges Americans to Transform Health

This summer, Metamucil® underwent an evolution to become part of a full line of wellness products called Meta, which aims to give consumers simple solutions to be healthy from the inside out. Meta believes that making one small change can lead to good things – resulting in a “Meta Effect” – and the brand is challenging Americans to put that philosophy to the test through a year-long wellness partnership with the City of Memphis and a national sweepstakes hosted on the Meta Facebook page.

While Memphis has found itself ranked as the unhealthiest city in America1, this headline doesn’t define or limit the city known as the home of the blues and delicious BBQ. Memphis is a community determined and ripe for change, and it’s starting with the idea of taking small healthy steps to inspire good things.

“Memphis has seen great revitalization in recent years, but we still need to work on making better health an attainable goal for everyone,” said Mayor A C Wharton, Jr. “I believe Memphis is a city of action and I know this community will rise to the challenge. One of the leading regional health community based organizations, Common Table Health Alliance (CTHA), is helping Meta usher in this journey of wellness by providing on the ground support for this year-long transformational program.”

The “Meta Effect” movement is not just for Memphis. So many communities around the country need a little bit of inspiration to start their journey to better health.

“Our goal is to not only motivate the people of Memphis, but also to inspire the rest of the country to achieve a lifetime of healthy habits one step at a time,” said Patrick Lockwood-Taylor, Vice President, General Manager of North America Personal Health Care at P&G. “Over the next year, we’ll report progress made in Memphis and continue to support Americans with wellness solutions that are easily incorporated into their lives.”

Together with brand spokesperson Michael Strahan and Latreal “La” Mitchell, Michael Strahan’s personal trainer, all Americans will have the chance to experience their own Meta Effect. Visit Facebook.com/MetaWellness1 in October and November to share a small health step and be entered in The Meta Effect Sweepstakes.**

About The Meta Memphis Project
To kick off the partnership, Meta and CTHA will join forces with MEMFix: Edge, a one-day, community-driven effort to imagine an invigorated Edge District, roughly defined as the area within a quarter-mile radius of the Marshall Avenue/Monroe Avenue intersection.

Livable Memphis and its many community partners are working with the local businesses, residents, and other stakeholders in the Edge to develop temporary re-designs of Marshall Avenue and activation of various vacant storefronts, while presenting live music, mobile food and retail, and other programs and activities to represent the potential of this area to visitors from Memphis and beyond. MEMFix: Edge will take place on Saturday, October 18 from 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Attendees can expect to participate in activities including: a wellness lounge; cycling studio; sampling station; and an opportunity to meet with La Mitchell for fitness and nutrition advice.

In addition to the kickoff event, Memphis residents can look forward to motivational and healthy activities throughout the year like pop-up wellness stations as well as cooking demos at local farmer’s markets. Meta will also provide product samples so Memphians can experience their own “Meta Effect.” At the end of the year, Meta will reward Memphis residents for their positive changes with a surprise permanent wellness installation.

About The Meta Effect Sweepstakes
**NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited. The Meta Effect Sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. & D.C. who are 18 years of age or older as of the last day of the month prior to date of entry. The sweepstakes period consists of two entry periods with the first Entry Period starting at 9.00 a.m. ET on October 11, 2014 and ending at 11:59 p.m. ET on November 15, 2014 and the second Entry Period starting at 9:00 a.m. ET on November 16, 2014 and ending at 11:59 p.m. ET on December 22, 2014 (“Entry Period 2”). For Official Rules, visit http://metaeffectsweeps.dja.com.

About Common Table Health Alliance
Common Table Health Alliance, formerly Healthy Memphis Common Table, is a regional health and health care improvement collaborative. Common Table Health Alliance is made up of community partners: Organizations, coalitions or individuals dedicated to improving health and well-being in our community and achieving health equity.

About Meta Products
Created and introduced for the first time in 1934 by G.D. Searle & Co., Metamucil powder was acquired by P&G in 1985. Metamucil powder is the number one doctor, pharmacist2, and gastroenterologist3 recommended fiber brand. Made with 100% natural psyllium fiber, Metamucil and new Meta Health Bars fit any lifestyle when you are looking to increase your fiber intake.

MetaBiotic™ is a 2-in-1 MultiHealth probiotic supplement containing Bio-Active 12™ which helps maintain digestive balance and promote a healthy immune system.*

For more information, visit http://www.MetaWellness.com.

About Procter & Gamble
P&G serves nearly five billion people around the world with its brands. The Company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Always®, Ambi Pur®, Ariel®, Bounty®, Charmin®, Crest®, Dawn®, Downy®, Duracell®, Fairy®, Febreze®, Gain®, Gillette®, Head & Shoulders®, Lenor®, Olay®, Oral-B®, Pampers®, Pantene®, SK-II®, Tide®, Vicks®, Wella® and Whisper®. The P&G community includes operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.

References
12014 ACSM American Fitness Index® Data Report
2Based on Pharmacy Times 2014 survey (fiber supplements, laxatives – bulk/fiber categories)
3Among recommendations in a Symphony Health Solutions survey 2014 (OTC therapeutic fiber category)