Disney Family.com Launches "Healthy Families" Initiative With Kaiser Permanente

Main Category: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness
Also Included In: Nutrition / Diet;  Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 25 Jun 2008 - 4:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

While more than two-thirds of parents surveyed say they are concerned about the healthy ingredients in the food their child eats, just under half of parents know the correct number of recommended daily servings of whole grains for children. And more than half say their child exercises for an hour or less each day, while nearly nine of every 10 people eat fast food one to two times a week, according to a recent online survey about healthy living from Disney Family.com (http://www.family.com). Furthermore, according to general healthcare standards based on age, height and weight, one in five of the surveyed parents have children who are considered overweight or at risk for being overweight. Disney and Kaiser Permanente have joined to help close that gap on nutrition knowledge and to help parents encourage their children to become more physically active.

"The resounding results from the survey indicate that raising a healthy family is a top-priority for parents but they are confused by the information currently available to them," said Emily Smith, vice president of the Disney Family Group. "As a result, we are looking to help parents find simple solutions and ideas to make beneficial lifestyle changes through the launch of a healthy living feature on Disney Family.com."

In addition to the survey findings, the new Disney Family.com "healthy families" section (http://www.family.com/healthyfamilies) features tips and ideas aimed at providing ways parents can make lifestyle changes for themselves and their families. As part of the initiative Disney Family.com will look to collaborate with Kaiser Permanente, leveraging the health care organization's health content and experts to communicate the importance of nutrition and exercise to parents, and offer real strategies for families to improve and maintain their health.

"Good health is a family affair. We are excited to work with Disney Family.com to help families be proactive about proper nutrition and exercise," said Debbie Cantu, vice president of brand marketing, Kaiser Permanente. "We know that health goes far beyond the walls of a doctor's office, and this initiative will help us to reach more people looking for ways to keep their families healthy and provide expert resources that parents can trust."

The Disney Family.com "healthy families" section includes:

- Tips on simplifying best nutrition practices for parents
- Ideas on making healthy eating and exercising manageable for parents
- Articles and video from Disney Family.com health and nutrition experts
- Healthy recipes the whole family can enjoy
- Healthy Families game widget, "Bag it Right," which allows users to test their healthy food knowledge.

Disney Family.com is also offering an "Eat Smart" sweepstakes that will award a family with a one-year supply of healthy meals that will be delivered to their home three times each week. Guests can enter the sweepstakes at http://www.family.com, for a chance to win, until August 2, 2008.

Survey Methodology

The results of the survey, underwritten by Disney Family.com and conducted by Usability Sciences, are based on responses of 7,099 Disney Family.com visitors worldwide. Every other visitor to the Disney Family.com Web site was invited to participate in the survey. The survey was conducted over a period commencing May 9, 2008 and continuing through May 27, 2008. The margin of error is + or - 5%.

About Disney Family.com

Disney Family.com is designed to present information on a variety of topics important to today's families - ranging from education, food and parenting, to advice on traveling with children, entertainment and shopping - in a manner that is compelling, comprehensive, entertaining and, most importantly, objective. Disney Family.com is dedicated to providing parents with answers to pressing questions through practical, objective and reliable information.

About Disney Online

Disney Online, a division of the Walt Disney Internet Group, produces the number one kids' entertainment and family community destination on the World Wide Web. Launched in 1996, Disney.com is the online gateway to all of the company's Disney-branded entertainment initiatives, providing comprehensive access to, and information about Disney movies, travel, television, games, mobile, music, shopping and live events. Disney.com also features Disney.com XD, a highly interactive broadband experience, that lets Disney.com guests create their own customized online channel with games, videos, music, and chat - all of which can be enjoyed simultaneously in an immersive environment.

In addition, Disney Online develops and publishes a range of online products and services including Pirates of the Caribbean Online, Disney's Toontown Online, Playhouse Disney Preschool Time Online, Disney Game Downloads, Disney Game Kingdom Online, Disney Connection and Hot Shot Business. The Walt Disney Internet Group (WDIG) is a unit of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS).

http://www.disney.com

About Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente is America's leading integrated health plan. Founded in 1945, it is a not-for-profit; group practice prepayment program headquartered in Oakland, Calif. Kaiser Permanente serves the health care needs of nearly 8.7 million members in nine states and the District of Columbia. Today it encompasses the not-for-profit Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and their subsidiaries, and the for-profit Permanente Medical Groups. Nationwide, Kaiser Permanente includes approximately 160,000 technical, administrative and clerical employees and caregivers, and more than 13,000 physicians representing all specialties. The organization's health care Labor Management Partnership is the largest health care partnership in the United States. It governs how more than 130,000 workers, managers, physicians and dentists work together to make Kaiser Permanente the best place to receive care, and the best place to work. For more Kaiser Permanente news, visit the KP News Center at: http://www.kp.org/newscenter.

Kaiser Permanente