Childhood Obesity and HBO's "Weight of the Nation" Series :: EDGE ...

Contributed by Ginny Ehrlich, CEO - Alliance for a Healthier Generation

The timing couldn?t be better for HBO and its partners to shed a much-needed light on the devastating impact that obesity is having on our country. More than 66 percent of Americans are overweight or obese and the mainstream is now looking for solutions. HBO is using its unique storytelling platform coupled with the science, research and data of the Institute of Medicine and others to help the general public learn and understand the brutal facts about the obesity epidemic - particularly, the threat to our children.

The Alliance for a Healthier Generation has been mobilizing schools, private industry and young people over the past seven years and sharing the same mind-blowing fact mentioned in the series - the current generation could become the first in American history to live shorter lives than their parents.

Childhood obesity in the United States is a complex issue and requires the commitment of every American to solve. Since 2005, the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, founded by the American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation, has encouraged every American to get involved in reducing this growing trend.

The Aliance has instituted new health-promoting programs and policies in more than 14,000 schools impacting the lives of more than 9 million students; activated more than 2.5 million teens and tweens to commit to eat better, move more and serve as leaders to their peers; provided 2.4 million children access to healthcare benefits for the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity; and facilitated an 88 percent reduction in beverage calories shipped to schools between 2004 and 2009 through a groundbreaking agreement with the beverage industry

The Alliance encourages every American to watch the Weight of the Nation series and get involved. Americans can take action with us at www.HealthierGeneration.org

About the Alliance for a Healthier Generation

The Alliance for a Healthier Generation works to address one of the nation?s leading public health threats - childhood obesity. The goal of the Alliance is to reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity by 2015, and to empower kids nationwide to make healthy lifestyle choices. Founded in 2005 by the American Heart Association and William J. Clinton Foundation, the Alliance works to positively affect the places that can make a difference to a child?s health: homes, schools, doctor?s offices and communities.

Kyle Washburn is the National Health and Fitness Editor at Edge Publications, Inc. He earned a BS in Physiology, M.Ed in Sport Psychology and Counseling and an MBA. He is a certified personal trainer through NASM and ACE and has been training for over ten years. He is an avid triathlete, softball and tennis player, runner, hiker and enjoys the outdoors.

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