Corporate Social Responsibility Press Release
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9.03.2008 - 09:41am ET
News from:
MetLife Foundation
American Academy of Family Physicians and MetLife Foundation Collaborate to Introduce New Approach to Problem of Childhood Obesity
Grant funds educational materials promoting fitness for the entire family
(CSRwire) LEAWOOD, Kan., Sept. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Academy of
Family Physicians (AAFP) and the AAFP Foundation have announced a new
partnership with MetLife Foundation, which is providing a $215,000 grant
to fund a program to counter the national epidemic of childhood obesity.
The program is designed to empower family physicians with new ways to
promote physical activity, nutrition, and emotional well-being for the
entire family. The endeavor will be administered by Americans In Motion
(AIM), an AAFP initiative that improves the health of all Americans
through multifaceted fitness programs.
"In order to combat childhood obesity effectively, we need to target not
just the children, but the entire family," said Jim King, M.D., president
of the AAFP. "Children learn by example, and a household that, as a unit,
makes sure to include regular exercise and balanced diets in its day-to-day
life is much more likely to have children who are happy and healthy."
The partnership will produce and distribute an educational DVD and
children's book, for use in physician waiting rooms, that encourages
patients to talk with family physicians about fitness and to work together
to develop a plan that enables sustained healthy lifestyle choices among
family members. The educational materials, due to be distributed in the
spring and summer of 2009 to more than 36,600 family physicians and 457
family medicine residency training programs, will be available in both
English and Spanish. The materials will discuss fitness for the family,
with a special emphasis on ways to maintain fitness for children through a
balance of physical activity, nutrition, and emotional well-being.
"The family physician can help combat the growing threat of childhood
obesity, by providing families with much-needed information from a trusted
source," said Sibyl Jacobson, president of MetLife Foundation. "MetLife
Foundation is pleased to help support this program, which offers
information about the importance of making smart decisions that can result
in longer, healthier lives."
Today's children may have a shorter life expectancy than their parents
because of obesity-related illnesses. Almost 60 percent of Americans do
not get sufficient daily exercise, and almost 65 percent of Americans are
overweight or obese. The family physician conducts 210 million patient
visits each year, and is in a strong position to positively influence the
fitness habits of their patients, helping to fight childhood obesity on a
national scale.
MetLife Foundation was established by MetLife in 1976 to carry on
its longstanding tradition of corporate contributions and community
involvement. Grants support health, education, civic and cultural
programs. For more information about the Foundation, visit http://www.metlife.org.
For more information please contact:
Ted Mitchell
MetLife Foundation
(401) 827-3237
Adam Lee
American Academy of Family Physicians
(800) 274-2237, ext. 5221
www.metlife.org
News Categories:
Philanthropy/Corporate Contributions and Health & Wellness
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