Childhood obesity is one of our nation’s leading health threats. Today, 11 million kids are overweight, and an additional 13 million are at risk for being overweight. As a result more and more kids are developing conditions and diseases that we would normally associate with adults—like high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, and type-2 diabetes.

To combat this epidemic, the American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation, along with California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA), have joined together to form the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. The Alliance’s goal is to stop the nationwide increase in childhood obesity by 2010 by taking bold, innovative steps to help all children live longer and healthier lives. The Alliance will positively affect the places that can make a difference to a child’s health: homes, schools, restaurants, doctors’ offices, and the community.

The Alliance for a Healthier Generation is uniquely positioned to create change. It combines the American Heart Association’s extensive reach into communities across the country, its credible science expertise, strong presence in schools, and nationwide network of volunteers and supporters, with the entrepreneurial approach, focus and innovation of the William J. Clinton Foundation.

Since the Alliance formed in May 2005, it has laid the groundwork for major change in schools through the Healthy Schools Program (launched with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation), brokered a landmark agreement with the beverage and snack food industries to offer healthier food and drink options in schools, and partnered with Nickelodeon to create the Let’s Just Play Go Healthy Challenge, a television show, web and community-level campaign that empowers kids to take charge of their own health. Learn more about the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.