Health notes are for support groups, exercise classes, blood drives and similar events open to the public at no or minimal cost. Send information to mclean @connectionnewspapers.com or call 703-917-6449. Deadline is Friday.
VIP Vienna, support group for people with vision loss, Thursday, April 24, 10 a.m. at the Patrick Henry Community Library, 101 Maple Ave. E, Vienna, 703-938-0405. For adults. No registration is required.
The Northern Virginia Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness will have its annual speaker meeting on Monday, April 28. The meeting will be an Ask the Doctor Session led by Dr. Colton Hand of the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board, who will answer general questions about mental illnesses. All who are interested are welcome to attend. Social time begins at 7 p.m., meeting and presentation is 7:30-9 at the Falls Church Christian Church, 6155 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church. Vall Joe Lipari 703-256-2908.
Lifestyle Weight Management of Tysons Corner, partnering with several other local organizations, is sponsoring a 10-Week Weight Loss Challenge to promote health and weight loss. The Challenge will reward one individual and the top three teams (3-5 people) with cash and prizes for losing the highest percentage of their weight over 10 weeks. Participants will achieve their weight loss using the system at Lifestyle Weight Management, which features Dr. Siegal’s Cookie Diet products. Contestants can win over $10,000 in cash, as well as various health related prizes from local sponsors. Lifestyle Weight Management will also make a $100 donation to the American Diabetes Association for each team that signs up for the Challenge.
Patients will weigh-in upon starting the Challenge, have monthly weigh-ins to gauge progress, and then have a final weigh-in after 10 weeks. The Challenge will use a revolving registration system through April, when teams and individuals can sign-up, weigh-in and begin the program. Final weight loss numbers will be tabulated at the end of July when all groups have completed the 10-week contest. All participants must register for the Challenge at www.LifestyleWeightManagement.com. There is an entry fee for the Challenge which will cover the cost of the required initial consultation.
On Sunday, May 4, the Ostomy Support Group of Northern Virginia, LLC meets, 1:30-3:30 p.m. at the Physicians' Conference Center, INOVA Fairfax Hospital, 3300 Gallows Road, Fairfax for the annual Ostomy Products Fair, featuring representatives from Hollister, ConvaTec, Coloplast, an ostomy nurse and others. Membership not required for those wishing to attend. Park in Blue garage. For more, call 703-802-3457 or visit www.ostomysupportofnova.org.
Caregiver Seminar: Hands on Care. Learn how to prevent and recognize skin breakdown and how to safely help your loved one with their daily activities. Presented by Sandy Harris, RN, BSN, Inova and Patricia Winter MS PT. 7-9 p.m. Thursday, May 8, at the Oakton library, 10304 Lynnhaven Place, Oakton. Call 703-242-4020. Cosponsored by the Fairfax Caregiver Seminar Consortium. Adults. No registration is required.
Living with Epilepsy Support Group (for parents of children with seizure disorders) meets the second Sunday of each month, 12:30-1:30 p.m. at McLean Bible Church, Lower Level, Room 1410, 8925 Leesburg Pike, Vienna. Free. For additional information contact call 703-569-1855. Next meeting May 11.