Health and Fitness

May 10, 2012

In Anticipation of The Weight of the Nation Series, a Look Back at Kaiser Permanente's Treatment of Weight-Related Health Problems

On May 14 and 15, Home Box Office (HBO) will air The Weight of the Nation, a four-part documentary series that takes an unprecedented, in-depth look at America’s increasingly serious obesity crisis. Kaiser Permanente, in conjunction with HBO and four other major organizations, has launched a landmark public-health campaign this month aimed at obesity, excess weight and their effects on the nation’s health.

In anticipation of the premiere, Kaiser Permanente takes a look back at the health plan’s response to weight-related health problems with a five-part series on its History of Total Health blog. Over the decades, Kaiser Permanente often took forward-thinking stands — before the dangers of obesity and excess weight were generally understood and accepted.

In Part 1 of the series, we learn about a Kaiser Permanente pediatric cardiologist who sounded the alarm early about coronary artery changes beginning in childhood. Part 2 traces the response of Kaiser Permanente — and the medical community at large — to obesity and overweight over the past 50 years.

Part 3 discusses how prescribing exercise as a path to good health is nothing new for Kaiser Permanente physicians. Part 4 looks at how physicians and researchers have come a long way in their understanding and treatment of heart disease. In Part 5, the focus is on the great strides 20th-century medicine has taken toward saving and lengthening the lives of those with diabetes.

As part of a commitment to the total health of its members and communities, Kaiser Permanente is joining with Home Box Office (HBO), the Institute of Medicine, the National Institutes of Health, the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to launch The Weight of the Nation — a four-part documentary series that will be available to all cable subscribers (not just HBO subscribers) on May 14 and 15. HBO is offering this “open signal” as part of its commitment to public health. There will also be an option of viewing the films with Spanish subtitles.

Read the series on the History of Total Health blog.