Catch the Show, "Childhood Obesity: Danger Zone"

Hurrah for Al Roker, who, of course, is best known as The Today Show's weatherman and feature reporter.

America's favorite weather guy -- who's been outspoken out about his own battles with weight -- put his weight (not the kind you put on a scale) behind an important documentary about childhood obesity, which has quadrupled in 40 years.

Al Roker Productions is unveiling "Childhood Obesity: Danger Zone," which premieres Saturday, March 31 (9 p.m. EST) on the Food Network.

The show -- which I haven't had a chance to see yet (given my hectic schedule this week) -- also re-airs:

• April 01, 2007 12:00 AM ET/PT
• April 07, 2007 5:00 PM ET/PT
• April 08, 2007 6:00 PM ET/PT

The documentary "explores why more than 12 million children and teenagers have serious weight problems and the health risks they face. It profiles young people who have successfully turned things around," AP's writer David Bauder reports.

"If you run the numbers out, this would be the first generation that has a shorter life span than their parents," Roker told The Associated Press. "That's scary."

I'm eager to see the documentary, which, incidentally, does delve into the fact that children are eating more sugary junk food, which, as we well know, is made quite tempting by relentless television advertising. It also discusses the rise in fast-food restaurants, the upswing in kids playing video games, and the fact that schools have scaled back on physical education.

But it highlights some success stories, too, which should be heartening to contemplate.

I'm really pleased to see Al Roker tackle such an important issue. I am puzzled, though, as to why -- given the TV personality's own battles to keep his weight under control and his production company's bold, exemplary move to tackle a documentary about childhood obesity -- the same company previously chose to do a documentary about the founders of three big sugary food companies, Milton Hershey, Famous Amos, and Tom Carvel. Doesn't the new children's obesity documentary imply that these and other "Titans of Taste: Sweet Success" have played a part in the obesity epidemic?

Even so, my applause goes to Al Roker and his production company for dicussing such an important problem in America today -- childhood obesity.

Comments

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