Sneak Peek: 'The Weight of the Nation' Documentary Series

By , SparkPeople Blogger
This week, I had the opportunity to attend a screening of a documentary about one of the most pressing issues of our time: the US obesity epidemic. The Weight of the Nation  will air on HBO as a four-part series May 14 and 15. Here is a description of the project, from HBO's website:

''Bringing together the nation’s leading research institutions, THE WEIGHT OF THE NATION is a presentation of HBO and the Institute of Medicine (IOM), in association with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and in partnership with the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and Kaiser Permanente.

The centerpiece of THE WEIGHT OF THE NATION campaign is the four-part documentary series, each featuring case studies, interviews with our nation’s leading experts, and individuals and their families struggling with obesity. The first film, CONSEQUENCES, examines the scope of the obesity epidemic and explores the serious health consequences of being overweight or obese. The second, CHOICES, offers viewers the skinny on fat, revealing what science has shown about how to lose weight, maintain weight loss and prevent weight gain. The third, CHILDREN IN CRISIS, documents the damage obesity is doing to our nation’s children. Through individual stories, this film describes how the strong forces at work in our society are causing children to consume too many calories and expend too little energy; tackling subjects from school lunches to the decline of physical education, the demise of school recess and the marketing of unhealthy food to children. The fourth film, CHALLENGES, examines the major driving forces causing the obesity epidemic, including agriculture, economics, evolutionary biology, food marketing, racial and socioeconomic disparities, physical inactivity, American food culture, and the strong influence of the food and beverage industry.''

Check out the trailer here:



I viewed part three, "Children in Crisis," which addressed topics we've all heard: children are becoming more overweight and obese due to the fact that they lack healthy food options at school and at home, spend too much time in front of computer and television screens, and are constantly swamped with media images that entice them to eat sugary, nutritionally-void foods.

The film showcased some phenomenal parents who were doing everything in their power to help their children become healthier. Not only did they seek out advice from medical professionals, but they also lived as an example for their kids by choosing not to keep sugary foods in the house and by exercising with their children on a regular basis. And it worked--slowly but surely, the kids made healthier choices, lost weight, and reduced their risk for future chronic disease. Unfortunately, these parents are in the minority: only 10% of parents with overweight or obese kids actively do something to correct the problem.

The documentary pointed out that most parents would take action immediately if they found out their child had a life-threatening condition like cancer, so why not take action in the case of obesity? After all, obesity is a huge risk factor for cancer, as well as other chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease. Though it may not be as sudden or immediately threatening as cancer, obesity is a slowly-creeping problem that can be just as fatal over time. But because it is such a slow creep, it can be difficult to create a sense of urgency surrounding the issue.

Whether your children are overweight or not, helping them make healthy choices now will save them from becoming statistics down the line. According to the documentary, we live in a time where we may be raising the first generation of kids who will have a shorter life expectancy than their parents, and, according to new data from researchers, obesity could affect 42% of Americans by 2030.

At SparkPeople, it's refreshing to see that many of our members do have that sense of urgency needed to create change. Every day, these parents are making an effort to help their children live a healthy lifestyle along with them--and it's working, just as it did for some of the families in the documentary. According to a recent SparkPeople member survey, we found that two-thirds of our members' kids are eating better because their parents are.

Sometimes, it seems like we're making it harder than it needs to be. You don't have to forbid your kids from ever having a treat, but you can lead by example. Just look at MOSTMOM1, who shares the joy of hula hooping with her daughter, or JMERLAU, who recently took his entire family on a healthy field trip to the farmers market. If you stay consistent and continue to provide your child with healthy messages like these, it will click and make a huge impact down the line. For more healthy kid-focused ideas, check out our Healthy Kids and Families Lifestyle Center.

The main message to take away from this segment of The Weight of the Nation is that education, prevention, and acting as a healthy example for your kids has never been more crucial. It's an obvious message, but it bears repeating, and it's time to make that message more urgent. With Mother's Day and Father's Day coming up, this is as good a time as any to remind yourself of your duty as a parent to keep your child thriving--not just surviving--as much as you possibly can. Never underestimate your power as a parent; your influence reaches much farther than you may even realize.

If you want to learn more about obesity in the US and the challenges of fighting against it, you can watch The Weight of the Nation on HBO: parts 1 and 2 on May 14 at 8 p.m. EST and parts 3 and 4 on May 15 at 8 p.m. The information is nothing new if you are up to date on health news, but the themes and statistics throughout are interesting (though aggravating at times); it feels daunting to know that we're up against such a large and complex issue. But don't get discouraged! You can do your part by teaching your kids today so we can build a healthier nation for the future.

If you are a parent, what are you doing to help your kids make healthy choices, for the short term and long term? Do you have a sense of urgency when it comes to your child's weight and health?