Florida Hospital System (see more articles like this)

WHAT: No it’s not the TV show Extreme Makeover, but Florida Hospital is looking to makeover the lives of some Central Florida families. For two days only, Florida Hospital is searching for a few good families who are in need of a health-changing experience.  Selected families will participate in an eight-week wellness program created with a Florida Hospital nutritionist.  The program is outlined in the book Supersized Kids: How to Rescue Your Child From the Obesity Threat, being published by Florida Hospital in August.  In addition to walking families through the eight-week plan, Supersized Kids takes an in-depth look at the mushrooming childhood obesity epidemic. 

Selected families will follow the eight-week program while consulting with an author of the book every week.  In addition, the entire family will receive a membership to either the Florida Hospital Celebration Health Fitness Centre or RDV Sportsplex.  Over the next two days, interested families can fill out an application form at www.supersizedkids.com.

Obesity is an epidemic that is killing our kids.  Twenty-five percent of U.S. children between the ages of six and 17 are either overweight or at risk for obesity.  As a result, one in three children born in 2000 is expected to develop Type 2 diabetes, which can also lead to loss of kidney function, blindness, and early death.

Supersized Kids is the first in a series of books being published by Florida Hospital with the Time Warner Book Group.  Over the next year, Florida Hospital is expected to release three more books.   

WHEN: The search for families begins today
Tape available including:
 Interview with Todd Chobotar, Director of Florida Hospital Publishing
 Preview of Supersized Kids book cover
 
CONTACT:  For more information, contact Florida Hospital Media Relations at 407/303-8217.