PepsiCo touches the lives of tens of millions of people every day. We are driven by the belief that by joining forces with partners across many sectors, we can make a far greater impact in the fight to reduce obesity and address other global nutrition needs than by working alone. As part of our efforts to help reduce obesity in the U.S., we are a founding member of the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation (HWCF). The Foundation is a CEO-led organization and a national, multi-year effort designed to help reduce obesity – especially childhood obesity – by 2015.
On Monday, the HWCF joined First Lady Michelle Obama and the Partnership for a Healthier America to announce its new pledge to reduce 1.5 trillion calories by the end of 2015.
“Solving the obesity epidemic requires far more than anything government can do alone and today’s announcement represents an important step forward to providing Americans with healthier choices so that they can choose to lead healthier lives,” said Mrs. Obama, who serves as honorary chair of the Partnership for a Healthier America. “This is precisely the kind of private sector commitment we need. I want to thank the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation for stepping up to the plate and I hope this encourages others to do the same.”
The HWCF manufacturing companies will pursue their calorie reduction goal by developing and introducing lower-calorie options, changing recipes where possible to lower the calorie content of current products, or reducing portion sizes of existing single-serve products. These calorie reductions are in comparison with what was available in the marketplace in 2008.
For more information see the press release.
The HWCF is an unprecedented partnership that brings together more than 80 of the nation’s largest retailers, non-profit organizations, food and beverage manufacturers, entertainment, publishing and sporting goods industries, insurance companies and trade associations.
The HWCF intends to help consumers lead healthier lives by offering healthier nutrition options and helping to make energy balance – calories in, balanced with calories out – a daily habit. The HWCF works toward this goal by increasing access and opportunities for physical activity, healthier nutrition options and raising awareness of the energy balance approach – in the marketplace, in workplaces and in schools. The HWCF will report annually on progress made against specific goals.
In 2009, PepsiCo Foundation made a two-year commitment of $2.5 million to HWCF. This grant is funding efforts in the marketplace as well as workplaces and schools to increase understanding and opportunities for physical activity and nutrition education, and to raise awareness of the energy balance approach.
For more information about the HWCF, please see: http://www.healthyweightcommit.org/
