LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., May 6, 2008 -- During his nationwide tour to promote the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Childhood Overweight and Obesity Prevention Initiative, the Acting U.S. Surgeon General Rear Adm. Steven K. Galson, M.D., M.P.H., stopped by Walt Disney World to present The Walt Disney Company with the “Healthy Youth for a Healthy Future” Champion Award in recognition of Disney’s well-balanced food initiative.

The Walt Disney Company created food guidelines that govern its licensed foods and promotions aimed at children. It has eliminated added trans fats from more than 1,000 food products and made well-balanced meals for children the standard at its U.S. theme parks.

The "Healthy Youth for a Healthy Future" initiative focuses on recognizing and showcasing those communities throughout the nation that are addressing childhood overweight and obesity prevention by helping kids stay active, encouraging healthy eating habits, and promoting healthy choices.

"I am honored to have the opportunity to visit communities and organizations across the country, like Walt Disney World, and meet first-hand with those actively engaged in finding ways to prevent childhood overweight and obesity," said Dr. Galson.

Some of the strides Disney has made since introducing new food guidelines in 2006:

• Disney Channel's "Pass the Plate" series that focuses on educating families on how to achieve healthier lifestyles.

   

• Disney Consumer Products' launch of the Disney Garden Line of healthy Disney-branded snacks.

   

• Walt Disney Parks and Resorts' elimination of added trans fats in more than 1,000 food products and introduction of a variety of nutritious side dishes and beverages as a standard component of kids' meals.

   

  "Our food guidelines make sure the use of the Disney name and its characters is limited to kid-focused products that meet specific guidelines that limit calories, fat, saturated fat and sugar," Regynald said.

   

  According to 2005 data from the Florida Department of Health, 14.4 percent of high school students were at risk for overweight and an additional 10.9 percent are overweight. Also in 2005, 31.3 percent of middle school students did not go to physical education classes at all during an average school week.

   

  Additional information on the Surgeon General's Initiative can be found at http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/obesityprevention.html