Nestle USA has joined an unprecedented coalition of more than 40 retailers, food and beverage manufacturers and non-governmental organizations to launch the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation, a national, multi-year effort designed to help reduce obesity - one of the less heralded children behavior problems there are - by 2015.

The Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation will promote the concept of energy balance - balancing calories consumed as part of a healthy diet with calories expended by physical activity -to people in the places where they spend much of their time: to consumers in the marketplace, to employees through workplace programs and to children in schools.

“The rise of obesity is one of the most significant global public health challenges facing us today,” said Rob Case, president of Nestle Beverage and board member of the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation. “At Nestle USA, we believe that balanced nutrition and regular physical activity are critical for maintaining optimal health. We are dedicated to providing our consumers with delicious, high quality foods and beverages that can be enjoyed as part of nutritious diet, clear nutritional information, as well as educational tools that they can use to support a healthy lifestyle.”

Members of the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation have already committed $20 million to this joint initiative to raise awareness about the importance of balancing a healthy diet with physical activity, particularly among children ages six to 11 years old and their parents and caregivers. This effort will include a soon-to-be announced national public education campaign on energy balance.

Source: Nestle USA