The Doctor Yum Project is holding a screening of the documentary “Fed Up” on Saturday, October 18, 2014, and the public is invited to attend. The screening will take place at 9:30 a.m. at the Paragon Village 12, located at 51 Towne Centre Blvd. in Fredericksburg. The suggested donation for admission is $5 minimum. Those encouraged to attend this screening include parents, students, teachers, local school officials, and healthcare providers, among others.
“This is a documentary that you do not want to miss, especially if you have children or work with them,” explains Dr. Nimali Fernando, a pediatrician who founded The Doctor Yum Project. “The movie exposes the problems with our food supply and how it is making our children so unhealthy. It is a must-see for every parent.”
In lieu of offering typical movie-going foods at the screening, the theater will suspend the sale of those items while it invites local businesses to share healthy food samples. There will also be a discussion following the movie.
The movie, which is produced by Katie Couric, exposes how the food industry is perpetuating disease and how kids are struggling with food addiction and obesity. Some of the key reasons that parents and health professionals should want to see this movie and care about the message include:
· If children are drinking one soda per day it increases their chance of obesity by 60 percent.
· There are approximately 93 million Americans who are affected by obesity.
· Kids are enticed to eat unhealthy foods to the point that they see 4,000 food-related ads each year. Of these, 98 percent are for foods high in fat, added sugar, and salt.
· There are 9 million children in the country who are considered to be overweight. One out of every seven white children are considered obese, while one out of every five black children are considered obese.
“The health problems our children are facing right now will impact all of us,” added Dr. Fernando. “But the good news is that it is not too late to turn things around. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of the children so they can go on to live healthy lives focused on wellness.”
In addition to outreach education, The Doctor Yum Project offers cooking classes for children, a cooking club, and a preschool nutrition program. Cooking classes for kids are available in age groups that include 3-6-year-olds, 7-12-year-olds, and 12-18-year-olds., and now they are offering classes for adults as well. Information on joining The Doctor Yum Project to help propel a movement of wellness will be available following the movie. To purchase tickets to the “Fed Up” movie screening, visit the Dr. Yum Project website here: www.doctoryum.com.