New model can eradicate childhood obesity in private sector

Published on June 16, 2012Sanofi US (Sanofi) and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, a non-profit organization founded by the American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation, today announced a new model for the private sector to combat childhood obesity. Sanofi pledged $800,000 to support the Alliance's work supporting healthy schools in the company's home state of New Jersey, and commits to provide preventative childhood obesity healthcare benefits to all of its employees.Sanofi's commitment will support the expansion of the Alliance's Healthy Schools Program, which currently supports more than 14,000 schools nationwide and more than 250 schools in New Jersey. With the sponsorship from Sanofi, the Alliance will expand its work in New Jersey to support schools in their efforts to create environments where physical activity and healthy eating for students and staff are the norm, not the exception. Additionally, Sanofi is one of the latest companies to support the Alliance's recommendations of its Healthier Generation Benefit for the prevention, assessment, and treatment of childhood obesity."Not only can companies support the programmatic work of childhood obesity initiatives across the country, they can change their own business practice to ensure future generations live long and healthy lives," said Ginny Ehlirch, CEO of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. "Sanofi is changing the landscape of how the private sector can help combat this critical public health issue. I applaud them for making this commitment to help reverse the childhood obesity epidemic."Grounded in the philosophy that there is no single cause and no single solution for childhood obesity, the Alliance prides itself on serving as a catalyst for businesses to become a part of the solution. By engaging with companies from diverse industries, the Alliance is able to improve the access kids and families have to healthcare benefits, nutritious foods and physical activity.