Blog Post: May 1 Was 'The Weight of the Nation Day, HBO Provides Resources With Community Outreach

The obesity rate in America has reached epidemic proportions. HBO takes on this national crisis with a new documentary The Weight of the Nation as well as an extensive community outreach and public health campaign. The project also features free distribution of films nationwide.

The documentary, The Weight of the Nation debuts May 14 and 15 on HBO, but this groundbreaking multi-part documentary series is just one part of the effort to raise public awareness on the growing health, economic and social issues associated with the obesity epidemic.

The project also includes nationwide dissemination of screening kits, which include the complete DVD box set with companion discussion guides to more than 40,000 community-based organizations, as well as a marketing campaign focusing on providing healthy options at school, a robust online and social media presence and a book published by St. Martin’s Press.   

Bringing together the nation’s leading research and health institutions, The Weight of the Nation is a presentation of HBO and the Institute of Medicine (IOM), in association with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and in partnership with the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and Kaiser Permanente.

To facilitate community action, HBO and its partners began distributing 40,000 screening kits to community-based organizations and coalitions, many of which focus on obesity prevention, including libraries, schools, doctor’s offices and public health departments across the country on April 24. The kits, which consist of 14 films, discussion guides in English and Spanish, and tips and supplemental materials for hosting screenings, provide essential tools to catalyze and support local efforts in communities that combat obesity across the country. These kits will also be available for downloading at hbo.com/theweightofthenation.

HBO, in association with Whole Kids Foundation and Global Tap, is working to provide 100 salad bars and 100 permanent water stations in schools across the country, giving thousands of students access to fresh fruits and vegetables and clean water. The campaign begins with 12 markets; by September, 88 additional salad bars and/or water stations will be in place for the start of the new school year.

Launching in early May, the expansive companion website for The Weight of the Nation (hbo.com/theweightofthenation) will detail 75 simple steps people can take to improve their health, as well as the health of their families and communities. The “take action” section of the site will give people the ability to pledge their commitment to curbing the obesity epidemic, with acts ranging from planting a garden, to walking more, to eating a healthy breakfast every day.

HBO will leverage a full slate of social media platforms–from Twitter and Facebook to YouTube and GetGlue–to showcase these practical actions. In addition, a social media-fueled Pledge for Progress will rally awareness through easily shared calls to action on Facebook and Twitter.

Sandi Berg is also a freelance journalist and writes about television for several magazines including "Written By" (Writer's Guild of America), "Life After 50" and "Whole Life Times Magazine."