In 2004, Dan Buettner teamed with National Geographic, the National Institute on Aging, and the world’s best longevity researchers to identify pockets around the world where people lived measurably better, longer. In these five areas—dubbed “blue zones”—researchers found that people reach age 100 at a rate 10 times higher than in the United States, and they do so with lower rates of chronic disease.

Blue Zones Project^® took the learnings from this Blue Zones^® research and started working with communities across North America to transform environments, making healthy choices easier where people live, work, learn, and play. In 2009, Blue Zones, LLC worked in partnership with AARP and the United Health Foundation to apply the Power 9^® principles in Albert Lea, Minnesota. It worked. After just one year, participants added nearly 2.9 years to their average lifespan. In addition to increased economic vitality, savings in medical costs and productivity loss, and improved health outcomes in Albert Lea, Freeborn County jumped up 34 places in the Minnesota County Health Rankings. Harvard’s Walter Willett, writing in Newsweek, called the results “stunning.”

Since that pilot program, Blue Zones Project has expanded to more than 70 communities across North America, impacting more than 4.35 million citizens. Our work has produced double-digit drops in obesity, smoking, and body mass index, among other health and well-being improvements.