Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation, 'nPLAY: New Partnership Launched to Promote Physical Activity Among Young Americans

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Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation

Sep 27, 2010, 10:01 ET

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- The Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation (HWCF) announced today that 'nPLAY – a coalition of 23 elite athletes from 11 different sports – has joined the Foundation to advance their common goal of supporting physical education and physical activity programs among young people.

"This is an excellent way to mark September as National Obesity Month. Physical activity is one of the most important elements of combating obesity in America, and together we can advance that goal," said HWCF executive director Lisa Gable. "Our commitment is to reduce obesity, especially child obesity, by increasing calories expended through physical activity and reducing calories consumed – fewer calories in, more calories out."

The primary mission of 'nPLAY is to focus on financially supporting physical education and physical activity programs in low-income areas, which statistically suffer the highest rates of childhood obesity in the United States.

"Every child in this country should have the opportunity to play and be physically active," said 'nPLAY co-chairman Grant Hill, star forward with the Phoenix Suns. "We are excited to have the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation and this group of all-star CEOs and companies as teammates. Working together, both organizations will be more effective."

'nPLAY co-chairman Jennie Finch, Olympic gold medal softball pitcher, said there are valuable synergies between her organization and the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation.

"We both recognize the importance of physical activity," Ms Finch said. "Too many young people are not getting the opportunity they need for exercise. It's time to change that and give them the same opportunities we had as children."

About 'nPLAY

'nPLAY is a peer-to-peer movement in which one athlete asks another to help, building membership and momentum. The organization's initial focus is to help schools meet the criteria of the Healthier US Schools Challenge. 'nPLAY and the USDA-Food Nutrition Services are in the process of developing a partnership that will focus on increasing the time dedicated to physical activity/education in targeted schools.

Read the full release and learn more about the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation.

SOURCE Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation