MIDDLEBURY — Health Commissioner Harry Chen, MD, is encouraging Addison County residents to watch and discuss a free screening of the HBO documentary film “Challenges” to better understand the nation’s obesity epidemic and inspire Vermonters to take action.
The film is part of the HBO series “Weight of the Nation” and highlights barriers to accessing healthy food and physical fitness. The movie will be screened and discussed on Tuesday, March 19, at 5:30 p.m. at the Middlebury Volunteer Ambulance Association Conference Room.
“Even in the healthiest state, we are facing the consequences of growing rates of overweight and obesity among adults and children,” said Dr. Chen. “We hope the film will engage Vermonters and mobilize local action to help prevent life-threatening chronic conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease.”
The HBO film was created in collaboration with the Institute of Medicine, the National Institutes of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention to spark a national public health campaign on an issue that affects every state.
No state has met the Healthy People 2010 goal to lower obesity prevalence to 15 percent. In Vermont in 2010, about one in four adults and one in 10 adolescents were obese.
Sponsors of the event are the Health Department, Porter Hospital, Blueprint for Health, Boys & Girls Club of Greater Vergennes, Addison Central Supervisory Union, MVAA Inc. and Addison County Regional Planning Commission.
For more information, tools and links to the Weight of the Nation campaign and Vermont’s efforts, go to www.healthvermont.gov andwww.cdc.gov/obesity. Also join us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.