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
The Weight of the Nation – 3 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.
Link for information on “The Weight of the Nation” docu-series:
