SAN ANTONIO — The Cooperative Extension Program at Prairie View A&M University and Care Improvement Plus will present a free showing of the HBO documentary “The Weight of the Nation” and facilitate discussion on the topic of obesity from 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. July 26 at the Bazan Library, 2200 W. Commerce in San Antonio.

The documentary, an HBO and Institute of Medicine presentation, was produced in association with the Centers for Disease Control and National Institutes of Health and in partnership with the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation and Kaiser Permanente.

A free showing of the HBO documentary ‘The Weight of the Nation’ and discussion on the topic of obesity will take place July 26 at the Bazan Library in San Antonio. (Graphic courtesy of HBO)

After viewing the documentary, attendees are invited to participate in a discussion on what can be done to help reduce the local obesity rate, said Grace Guerra-Gonzalez, Cooperative Extension Program agent for family and consumer sciences, Bexar County.

“This is a great opportunity for people to learn more about our national situation with obesity and to find out how they can be part of efforts to reduce obesity locally and improve the health of their community,” Guerra-Gonzalez said.

She said discussion would include what is currently being done locally to address the obesity issue, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and providing recommendations on how area businesses, agencies and organizations can further help individuals and families make healthier lifestyle choices.

“Obesity is the nation’s leading cause of preventable illness and death,” Guerra-Gonzalez said. “It contributes to heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, kidney disease, some types of cancer and other illnesses. With more than two-thirds of the nation’s adults and more the two-fifths of its children overweight or obese, we need to do whatever we can – as soon as possible — to reverse this harmful trend.”

Space for the screening and discussion is limited, so Guerra-Gonzalez said those interested should RSVP to her by July 19 by calling the Texas AgriLife Extension Service office in Bexar County at 210-467-6575.

More information on health-related programs and activities involving the Cooperative Extension Program can be found at http://pvcep.pvamu.edu/PAGES/fcs.html.

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