WILMINGTON – On Friday, March 23, 2012, U.S. Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) will join Delaware Health and Social Services Secretary Rita Landgraf, Division of Public Health Director Dr. Karyl Rattay, and U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services Regional Director Joanne Grossi at Westside Family Healthcare in Dover to announce "Collaborate for a Healthy Weight," a new initiative to prevent and treat obesity, made possible by a grant from the Affordable Care Act.

"Collaborate for a Healthy Weight" is a national effort to reverse the obesity epidemic through innovative local partnerships between primary care doctors and nurses, public health professionals, and leaders of community-based organizations. They will be working together to reverse the obesity epidemic in communities across the country. These community partners will work together to improve the ability of individuals to lead healthy lifestyles, be physically active and eat healthy foods.

This effort is led by the National Initiative for Children's Healthcare Quality, in partnership with the Health Resources and Services Administration and is funded by the Affordable Care Act, which was signed into law two years ago.