or


[01/13/12 - 07:02 AM]
"The Weight of the Nation," A Multi-Part, Multi-Platform Series Addressing the National Obesity Epidemic, Debuts in May on HBO
In the U.S., 68% of adults age 20 and over are overweight or obese, while 31.7% of the nation's children and adolescents age two to 19 are overweight or obese.

[via press release from HBO]

"THE WEIGHT OF THE NATION," A MULTI-PART, MULTI-PLATFORM SERIES ADDRESSING THE NATIONAL OBESITY EPIDEMIC, DEBUTS IN MAY ON HBO

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 13, 2012 - Continuing its tradition of spotlighting the nation's most pressing health issues in such presentations as "Addiction" and "The Alzheimer's Project," HBO addresses obesity in THE WEIGHT OF THE NATION, helping launch one of the most far-reaching public health campaigns on this epidemic to date. The multi-part, multiplatform series debuts in May, exclusively on HBO.

In the U.S., 68% of adults age 20 and over are overweight or obese, while 31.7% of the nation's children and adolescents age two to 19 are overweight or obese.* Obesity contributes to six of the ten leading causes of death in America, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers and high blood pressure.**

Bringing together the nation's leading research institutions, THE WEIGHT OF THE NATION is being developed in partnership with the Institute of Medicine (IOM), in association with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and with the support of the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and Kaiser Permanente.

"Obesity has become one of the most serious threats to the health of the American people," comments Harvey V. Fineberg, M.D., Ph.D., president of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academies.

"If we don't succeed in turning this epidemic around, we are going to face, for the first time in our history, a situation where our children are going to live shorter lives than we do," says Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Obesity-related health care costs about $147 billion annually, and, on average, someone who is obese costs $1400 more a year to care for," notes Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, M.D., M.P.H., director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "To get healthy, we're all going to have to do our part - individuals, communities, local, state and the federal government. If the obesity trend continues, we're going to face steadily increasing health care costs, as well as more lives lost to type 2 diabetes, heart disease, many cancers and other complications from obesity."

THE WEIGHT OF THE NATION comprises four documentary films, a three-part HBO Family series, 14 bonus shorts, a social media campaign, a book published by St. Martin's Press and a nationwide community-based outreach campaign to support the initiative.

The four-part series debuts MONDAY, MAY 14 and TUESDAY, MAY 15, on HBO, with two films airing back-to-back each night. The three-part HBO Family series debuts WEDNESDAY, MAY 16.

To ensure the widest possible audience, HBO will use all its services, including the main HBO channel, multiplex channels, HBO On Demand, HBO GO and more. All films will also stream free of charge on HBO.com, as well as on multiple platforms by participating television service providers.

Three years in the making, THE WEIGHT OF THE NATION spotlights the facts and myths of this urgent public health issue, showing how obesity affects the health of the nation and cripples the health care system. Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and arthritis are just a few of the diseases directly linked to obesity and will dramatically increase if the status quo does not change.

Like many other public health problems, overweight and obesity have disproportionate impacts on disadvantaged communities and racial and ethnic minorities. Nine of the 10 states with the highest obesity prevalence are also among the poorest.***

Americans are eating too much and too often, and not getting enough physical activity. Less healthy foods, such as soda, chips and candy, have become relatively less expensive, while more nutritious foods like fruits and vegetables have become relatively more expensive. What's more, access to healthy food is a challenge for many communities. Compounding the problem are strong societal forces compelling people to eat more and move less.

The centerpiece of THE WEIGHT OF THE NATION is the four-part documentary series, featuring case studies and interviews with leading experts and with individuals and families struggling with obesity.

The first film, "Consequences," examines the scope of the obesity epidemic and explores the serious health consequences of being overweight or obese.

The second film, "Choices," gives viewers the skinny on fat, revealing what science has shown about how to lose weight, maintain weight loss and prevent weight gain.

The third film, "Children in Crisis," documents the damage obesity is doing to the nation's children, tackling subjects ranging from school lunches to the decline of physical education to the marketing of unhealthy food to children.

The fourth film, "Challenges," examines the major forces behind the obesity epidemic, including agriculture, economics, evolutionary biology, food marketing, racial and socioeconomic disparities, physical inactivity, American food culture and the strong influence of the food and beverage industry.

HBO Family's "The Weight of the Nation for Kids," a series of three half-hour films, looks at children who have taken action to prevent obesity in their own lives and communities. From the Rethinkers, a group of New Orleans students, to the heartwarming story of a Goldsboro, NC high school student, the films offer inspiring examples of kids who have made a difference.

In conjunction with the launch of THE WEIGHT OF THE NATION films, the IOM will feature a new report at the CDC's Weight of the Nation� conference, May 7-9, that reviews the progress made to date in curbing obesity and recommends selected strategies and actions that can accelerate progress in the near future.

To facilitate community action, the campaign will reach deep into local areas to distribute 40,000 community action kits to community-based organizations working on obesity prevention. The kits, consisting of the entire series, discussion guides in English and Spanish, and tips and supplemental materials for hosting screenings, will provide essential tools to catalyze and support local efforts in communities that combat obesity across the country.

Sources:

*National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)

** Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

*** Youfa Wang and May A. Beydoun, From the Center for Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Md. Jan. 25, 2007.

ABOUT THE PARTNERS

INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE

Established in 1970 under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Medicine provides objective, evidence-based advice to policymakers, health professionals, the private sector, and the public. The National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, and National Research Council make up the independent, nonprofit National Academies. For more information, visit national-academies.org or iom.edu

CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC)

CDC works 24/7 saving lives, protecting people from health threats, and saving money through prevention. Whether these threats are global or domestic, chronic or acute, curable or preventable, natural disaster or deliberate attack, CDC is the nation's health protection agency. CDC is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. www.cdc.gov.

THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (NIH)

NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.

THE MICHAEL & SUSAN DELL FOUNDATION

The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of children living in urban poverty around the world. With offices in Austin, TX, Cape Town, South Africa and New Delhi, India, the Dell family foundation funds programs that foster high-quality public education and childhood health, and improve the economic stability of families living in poverty. The foundation has committed more than $825 million to global children's issues and community initiatives to date. www.msdf.org.

KAISER PERMANENTE

Kaiser Permanente brings together its clinical expertise, research capabilities and community engagement efforts to combat childhood obesity and to improve the health of its members and the communities it serves. The organization's Community Health Initiatives for Healthy Eating Active Living support more than 40 place-based obesity prevention collaboratives, which work with community residents, non-profit organizations and government agencies to increase access to healthy food and opportunities for physical activity in schools, neighborhoods and workplaces. In 2009, Kaiser Permanente received the Pioneering Innovation award from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for its groundbreaking obesity prevention efforts. As the nation's largest integrated delivery system, the organization pioneered efforts such as BMI and exercise as Vital Signs, which have become standards of practice in the health care sector. Every Body Walk!, a public awareness campaign powered by Kaiser Permanente, aims to get people walking 30 minutes a day, five days a week to improve their overall health. For more information, visit www.kp.org/communitybenefit.





  [january 2012]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)





[11/07/24 - 01:17 PM]
The CW Acquires "Bob Hearts Abishola" Repeats
Look for a marathon of the first four episodes on Friday, November 15.

[11/07/24 - 01:03 PM]
Snoop Dogg Returns to E! with "Snoop's Fatherhood: Cori and Wayne's Story" Premiering Thursday, Dec. 5
The three-part docuseries features Cori Broadus and her fiancé, Wayne Duece, as they journey through the ebbs and flows of love, life and new beginnings with friends and family.

[11/07/24 - 10:30 AM]
CBS Orders Full Seasons of "Poppa's House" and "NCIS: Origins"
According to VideoAmp and internal streaming data, with seven days of multiplatform viewing, "NCIS: Origins'" premiere has been seen by 9.0 million viewers and "Poppa's House" by 6.41 million viewers.

[11/07/24 - 09:15 AM]
Netflix and Most Valuable Promotions Confirm Fight Week & Fight Night Broadcast Team and Livestream Details for Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson Mega-Event
British sports broadcaster Kate Scott (née Abdo) will serve as the main host with former world champion Andre Ward as lead booth analyst.

[11/07/24 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Alien: Romulus" - Coming Soon - Hulu
Starring Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, and Isabela Merced, "Alien: Romulus" is streaming November 21, only on Hulu.

[11/07/24 - 09:00 AM]
HBO Original Comedy Special "Bill Maher: Is Anyone Else Seeing This?" Debuts in January
The comedian, writer, and host of "Real Time with Bill Maher" will tape his special in front of a live audience at the CIBC Theater in Chicago, Illinois.

[11/07/24 - 08:01 AM]
First Season of NWSL on ION: 50 Matches, 53 Studio Shows, 130+ Hours of Content, 20.5 Million Unique Viewers
Matches drew an average audience of 145,000 P2+ per game with a high of 234,000 on July 6 for the Orlando-Kansas City match.

[11/07/24 - 07:01 AM]
Video: Apple TV+ Reveals First Look at Third Season of "Sago Mini Friends"
The five-episode season is a delightful nod to gratitude, featuring Harvey the floppy-eared dog and his best friends, Jinja the cat, Jack the rabbit and Robin the bird.

[11/07/24 - 07:01 AM]
Video: Prime Video Announces Premiere Date and Teaser Trailer for UK Original Movie "My Fault: London" Starring Asha Banks and Matthew Broome
The new film will premiere exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide on February 13, 2025.

[11/07/24 - 06:00 AM]
Video: Paramount+ Reveals Official Trailer for the New Christmas Comedy Film "Dear Santa"
The film is the story of a young boy (Robert Timothy Smith) who mails his Christmas wish list to Santa with one crucial spelling error, resulting in a devilish Jack Black's arrival to wreak havoc on the holidays.

[11/07/24 - 05:01 AM]
Video: "Camp Crasher" - Official Trailer - Netflix
In a bid to save her son's end-of-school camping trip, a single mom steps in as the bus driver while trying to show him she really can be a cool mom.

[11/07/24 - 03:01 AM]
Video: "Love Never Lies: South Africa" - Official Teaser - Netflix
Six couples face trust issues, temptations, and a ruthless lie detector in South Africa's first dating show of its kind - testing their love and honesty.

[11/07/24 - 02:01 AM]
Video: "Mononoke The Movie: The Phantom in the Rain" - Special Trailer - Netflix
In the chambers of the Edo harem, two newcomers uncover political intrigue, rivalry and a vengeful spirit only one traveling medicine seller can vanquish.

[11/06/24 - 11:34 AM]
For the First Time in 16 Years, ABC News Is #1 Broadcast Network Across All Key Demos in Total Viewers, Adults 25-54, Adults 18-49 on Election Night
ABC News' "Election Night 2024: Your Voice/Your Voice" ranked No. 1 among the broadcast networks in all key target demos - Total Viewers (5.665 million) and Adults 25-54 (2.156 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.819 million).

[11/06/24 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "The Only Girl in the Orchestra" - Official Trailer - Netflix
This short documentary celebrates trailblazing double bassist Orin O'Brien, the first woman to become a full-time member of the New York Philharmonic.