West Virginia University’s Dr. Eloise Elliott, who chairs of a statewide effort to increase physical activity and promote wellness in West Virginia, will be a keynote speaker at today’s (May 7) Weight of the Nation Conference in Washington, D.C. Elliott, Ware Distinguished Professor at WVU’s College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, will join Dr. Russ Pate, chair, National Physical Activity Plan, and W.Va. State Senator Ron Stollings, chair, Senate health committee, to discuss the topic, “National Physical Activity Plan: Collaboration to Improve Physical Activity.”

West Virginia has received national attention because it is leading the nation in developing plans modeled after the National Physical Activity Plan, launched in 2010.

Elliott, chair of the WV Physical Activity Plan, will provide insight on current collaborative efforts to improve physical activity at the conference on obesity prevention and control. Weight of the Nation™ 2012: Moving Forward, Reversing the Trend, is a national effort spearheaded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

ActiveWV 2015: The WV Physical Activity Plan was launched earlier this year in Charleston to provide a strategic direction for physical activity promotion within the state. According to organizers, ActiveWV aims to increase physical activity levels to meet or exceed national physical activity recommendations and to improve the health and quality of life of West Virginians.

“I am honored to represent our great state of West Virginia at the Weight of the Nation Conference,” Elliott said. “As we move forward in physical activity promotion in our schools, communities, and outdoor natural environments throughout the state, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to share our successes with others throughout the country.”

ActiveWV has been developed with the involvement of eight sectors, including: health care, public health, education, business and industry, mass media, parks, recreation, fitness and sport, transportation and volunteer and non-profit. Partnerships have been established with WV State Parks, the WV Department of Education, health care providers, schools, city and county governments and universities.

The Weight of the Nation™ 2012 showcases CDC initiatives to improve dietary quality and increase physical activity to prevent and control obesity among Americans. CDC anticipates an audience of 1,500 attendees, including public health practitioners, representatives from agriculture, education, transportation and legal sectors, media, and policy makers.

—WVU—

05/07/12

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CONTACT: Kimberly Cameon, WVU College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences
304-293-0827, Kimberly.Cameon@mail.wvu.edu