Sankofa CDC and Healthy Heart Community Prevention Project Host HBO Film and Community Discussion on the Consequences of the Obesity Crisis in America at the Café Istanbul in the Healing Center on Wednesday, June 13 at 6PM

Sankofa Community Development Corporation (CDC) and Healthy Heart Community Prevention Project (HHCPP) have announced that they are combining forces to highlight the obesity crisis facing the United States of America, including adults and children. The event will center on a viewing of the HBO Documentary Film, “The Weight of the Nation: Consequences, Part One”.

 

The viewing and open discussion will be held on Wednesday, June 13th, 6pm in Café Istanbul at the Healing Center, 2372 St. Claude Ave. A group of expert professionals will lead an open forum, moderated by Keith C. Ferdinand, MD, cardiologist and with panelists Keith Winfrey, MD & Christi LaMark, MPH. A youth participant of the Sankofa HEAL Project will also join the panel to share his reflections on the screening.

 

“Cardiologists, primary care physicians, and nurses are now convinced that treating disease is really not enough to control heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and other conditions associated with obesity,” said Daphne P. Ferdinand, PhD, RN, President and Executive Director of HHCPP. Dr. Ferdinand also notes, “this program is the type of community intervention that will go a long way to increasing awareness and hopefully leading to meaningful behavioral changes.”

 

“We are very encouraged by the desire of our community partners to embrace and support this effort,” said Rashida Ferdinand, Founder and Executive Director of Sankofa CDC. “We hope for this screening to encourage a community dialogue through which we educate one another about the importance of maintaining healthy lifestyles for our families, children and future generations.

 

The Weight of the Nation takes an unflinching look at the severity of the crisis and its crippling effects on our health care system. With more than 68% of American adults overweight or obese, “Consequences” examines the scope of the obesity epidemic and explores the serious health consequences of being overweight or obese.

 

The Sankofa Community Development Corporation serves as a catalyst to revitalize New Orleans’ Lower and Upper Ninth Ward communities and functions to facilitate advances in urban revitalization, healthy living, education and economic development. For more information, visit www.sankofanola.org

 

The mission of the Healthy Heart Community Prevention Project is to promote heart health and to eliminate disparities associated with cardiovascular disease in vulnerable communities and improve public health of communities. For more information, visit www.healthyheartcpp.org