MANCHESTER — Twelve women, ages 30 to 63, will begin the American Heart Association's 12-week BetterU program, a heart-healthy makeover program today.

They will gather for the first time between 5 and 6:30 p.m. at the Executive Health & Sports Center's new restaurant Sizzle, one Highlander Way.

The BetterU program, sponsored by Harvard Pilgrim, will be delivered by the Center's 90-Day Commit To Get Fit Program.

The women, who were selected by Harvard Pilgrim from a group of applicants, will have non-invasive health risk assessments, including blood pressure tests, blood lipid profile and body composition assessments and meet with the Center's master wellness coach, Tricia Benton.

Beth Roberts, vice president of Northern New England for Harvard Pilgrim health care of New England, said, “More than 50 percent of New Hampshire women are obese or overweight, the leading causes of chronic disease. We all need to understand what each of us can do to improve our health, and the BetterU provides us role models from our communities who can show us how.”

Benton said,“Getting healthy and staying well requires lifestyle changes and a knowledge base for individual fitness, nutrition, stress management and behavior modification. The 90-Day Commit To Get Fit Program is designed to deliver this education and individual results which change lives.”

BetterU is a component of the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women movement, which aims to raise awareness about heart disease, the number one cause of death in women. BetterU incorporates healthy eating, exercise and behavior changes to improve health.

While the 12 women selected for the program at the Center will have the advantage of Benton's direct guidance and use of the Center's facilities, anyone can participate in the online version of BetterU by going to the American Heart Association's website, GoRedForWomen.org and clicking on the BetterU tab. There is a BetterMe Coaching Tool that is downloadable to computer desktops, blogs and even iGoogle personalized home pages.