GMA Weighs in on ‘Weight of the Nation’ Documentary

Ahead of the well-publicized “Weight of the Nation” documentary series scheduled to premiere May 14 and May 15 on HBO, the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) has expressed its intention to work with the premium cable network and its partners to help eliminate obesity in the United States and globally.

“Obesity is a serious problem and everyone -- industry, government, parents, communities and health care providers -- must do their part if we are going to meet First Lady Michelle Obama’s goal of solving childhood obesity within a generation,” the Washington, D.C.-based organization said. “America’s food and beverage companies enthusiastically support Mrs. Obama’s goal, and in recent years we have accelerated our efforts to provide consumers with the products, tools and information they need to achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle.”

GMA pointed out that since 2002, its consumer packaged goods company members have introduced more than 20,000 new product choices with fewer calories; reduced fat, sodium and sugar; and more whole grains. Additional efforts include pledging to remove 1.5 trillion calories from the food supply by 2015 through the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation; working through the Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative (CFBAI) to voluntarily adopt strict advertising criteria so that 100 percent of CFBAI members’ ads seen on children’s programming today promote healthier diet choices and better-for-you products; and launching Facts Up Front, a voluntary front-of-pack nutrition labeling system designed to help consumers make more informed decisions when they shop. 
 

HBO's partners in the "Weight of the Nation" project are the Institute of Medicine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, and Kaiser Permanante.