Community based initiative to help combat obesity and promote healthy lifestyles

Weight Watchers International, Inc.Oct 23 2009

President Bill Clinton made a special appearance on October 10 to open the Weight Watchers Presents Fun and Fit in the City -- at the Harlem Children's Zone in Harlem, NY. Part of the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival, the free community based initiative -- which drew over 800 attendees -- was created to help combat obesity and provide practical tips for families to follow healthier lifestyles.

"We are very excited about the success of the inaugural Fun and Fit in the City," said Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival founder and director Lee Schrager. "Childhood obesity is an extremely important topic for families across America, and we are pleased to have provided the families of the Harlem Children's Zone an opportunity to learn fun and interactive tools to help lead healthier lifestyles."

The event included a health expo for parents featuring the nutrition education programs from festival beneficiaries, Share Our Strength and Food Bank For New York City as well as educational activities for children that ranged in topics from art to music and nutrition. Following President Clinton's welcome remarks, community leaders such as New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn spoke to the crowd. The event highlight was a panel discussion from leading health and fitness experts. Moderated by New York Times Well columnist Tara Parker-Pope, the panel combined Allan Houston's experience as a professional athlete and father of five with Dr. Mehmet Oz's medical advice and culinary personality Rachael Ray's knowledge of food and nutrition. Panelists addressed childhood obesity and offered practical advice for parents on how to raise a healthy eater and incorporate healthy habits into children's lives.

The event was open to invited families of the Harlem Children's Zone. As parents visited the health expo and listened to the panel, their children were invited to visit the new Good Food Garden on the school's 5th floor terrace. Created by Weight Watchers, Whole Foods, Food Network and Share Our Strength, the edible garden is a nutrition education tool that will enable kids in the community to grow their own produce and see vegetables in a new, friendlier light. This is one of two new Good Food Gardens in New York City; the other will be located at the Robert Fulton Houses, a 945-unit housing project in Chelsea.

"We believe that good health happens in the small decisions you make every day. Weight Watchers continues to promote and focus on the importance of having parents and other adults role modeling and adopting a healthy lifestyle. We also support initiatives such as the Good Food Gardens that help educate children, and we are proud to have sponsored this event," said Weight Watchers CEO David Kirchhoff.