American Heart Association To Make Major Announcement About Obesity

What: News conference to announce addition of obesity to the American Heart Association's list of major, modifiable risk factors for coronary heart disease, the nation's number one killer. List also includes smoking, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure and sedentary lifestyle -which people can control to reduce their chances for disability and death from heart disease.

When: Monday, June 1, 10 a.m., ET

Where: Grand Hyatt New York Park Avenue at Grand Central Regency Room, Mezzanine level

Why: 53 percent of Americans are overweight.

There is strong scientific evidence about obesity's role in heart disease. Modest weight reductions can help reduce the risk of heart attack by reducing total blood cholesterol and high blood pressure. Obesity is a health problem.

The American Heart Association is calling for actions by government, health care providers and the public that could help people prevent obesity.

Who:

Robert H. Eckel, M.D. Vice-chairman of the American Heart Association's volunteer Nutrition Committee internationally recognized medical expert on obesity professor of medicine and physiology and program director, General Clinical Research Center University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO

John Paul Foreyt, M.S., Ph.D. American Heart Association volunteer and spokesperson professor, experimental medicine and psychology (department of medicine) Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX

Maudene Nelson, M.S., R.D. American Heart Association volunteer and spokesperson nutritionist, Institute of Human Nutrition College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, NY