Alaska Chief Medical Officer calls obesity dominant public health threat of this generation

ANCHORAGE – In Alaska, about three out of every 10 children are overweight or obese, and about two out of every three adults weigh too much.

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services and Providence Health & Services Alaska are working together to raise awareness of obesity in Alaska and ways to prevent and address the problem. The two organizations are hosting a free screening today of part of the HBO documentary film series called “The Weight of the Nation: Children in Crisis.” HBO worked with the Institute of Medicine, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, and other partners on this film project.

Dr. Ward Hurlburt, Alaska’s Chief Medical Officer and Director of the Alaska Division of Public Health, and Dr. Richard Mandsager, Chief Executive of Providence Alaska Medical Center, will speak about obesity in Alaska before the screening begins.

For more information about “The Weight of the Nation,” visit https://theweightofthenation.hbo.com/. For more information about Alaska’s effort to raise awareness about childhood obesity and the importance of physical activity, visit www.playeveryday.alaska.gov.

WHAT: Free screening of part of the HBO documentary film series: “The Weight of the Nation: Children in Crisis.”

WHEN: Today, 12 – 1 p.m.

WHERE: Anchorage, Providence Health Park, 3851 Piper St., Conference rooms U2281 & U2285 (Parking is available in the Health Park garage.)

WHY: To learn what is causing the childhood obesity epidemic and what we can do about it.

WHO: Dr. Ward Hurlburt, Alaska’s Chief Medical Officer and Director of the Alaska Division of Public Health

Dr. Richard Mandsager, Chief Executive of Providence Alaska Medical Center

Karol Fink, manager of Alaska’s Obesity Prevention and Control Program