Addressing Obesity: Foundation Opportunities to Leverage The Weight of the Nation

Cosponsored by Grantmakers In Health and the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders

When

Thursday, April 12, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern / 1:00 p.m. Central / 12:00 p.m. Mountain / 11:00 a.m. Pacific

Who

• Aliya Hussaini, Michael & Susan Dell Foundation
• Loel Solomon, Kaiser Permanente

What

The United States is in the midst of a public health crisis fueled by an epidemic of obesity. With consequences far greater than any disease in recent memory, obesity affects 97 million Americans. Chronic conditions related to obesity, including type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, consume 80 percent of our nation’s health care costs.

In response, Kaiser Permanente, the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, the Institute of Medicine (IOM), the National Institutes of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have joined HBO to launch The Weight of the Nation, one of the country’s largest public health campaigns on obesity to date.

By building public awareness and engagement, The Weight of the Nation project is designed to accelerate efforts to prevent and eliminate obesity across the United States. The campaign will create opportunities for community engagement, collaboration, advocacy, and partnerships aimed at combating obesity and producing demand for healthier environments.

The campaign centerpiece is a four-part film series that will premiere on HBO in May 2012. Each film examines the obesity epidemic from a unique point of view, from Consequences and Choices to Children in Crisis and Challenges. In addition, a variety of free materials will be made available to the public, including a related series for children; targeted shorts; screening kits; and web, print, and social media resources. The screening kits, available in English and Spanish, will contain the films and IOM-developed discussion guides for hosting independent screening events and inspiring sustained community obesity prevention.

Related Content

• Weight of the Nation Presentation – PDF document, 1154 KB