MOLLY SIMS AND GUNNAR PETERSON KICK OFF THE 2008 PETFIT CHALLENGE TO HELP AMERICA'S CATS AND DOGS LOSE 50 MILLION POUNDS
Challenge Marks Launch of The American Veterinary Medical Association and Hill's Pet Nutrition First-Ever Joint National Weight Loss Campaign for Dogs and Cats
LOS ANGELES·January 22, 2008/PR Newswire/— As millions of people make a resolution to lose weight this year, 54 million overweight cats and dogs in the United States also are in need of shedding a few pounds for their health's sake. Today, to help America's beloved pets start their path to a healthier lifestyle, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), one of the most trusted authorities on animal health and welfare, and Hill's Pet Nutrition®, a leader in pet nutrition, launched the 2008 PetFit Challenge with a pop up pet health and fitness center at the Hollywood and Highlands in Los Angeles. As part of this challenge, the AVMA, Hill's and celebrity fitness guru, Gunnar Peterson, along with the first participant, actress and model, Molly Simms and her two dogs, Chloe and Poepette, are pledging to help America's pets lose 50 million pounds in 2008 - one of the biggest overall weight-loss challenges in America.
To help pet owners get started, the AVMA and Hill's have teamed up with Peterson, a professional trainer who has worked with celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck and Gwen Stefani, to create a proprietary People and Pets Fitness video that provides pet owners with simple exercises to get themselves and their pets in shape. These specially designed exercises will be unveiled at the Los Angeles event and will allow people and pets to learn the workout first hand. The workout is comprised of a series of easy, yet effective exercises that people can do along with their pets. Special workouts for cats and dogs have been created as part of the program.
"When I learned that a whopping 35 percent of the total pet population is either overweight or obese , I was shocked and immediately wanted to help people learn how to exercise with their pets to help fight pet obesity," said Gunnar Peterson, celebrity personal trainer. "My livelihood is helping celebrities achieve their fitness goals, but I also am an avid pet lover and have four dogs of my own. So, it was a natural extension for me to design a special workout program that pet owners can do with their pets to ensure they both are getting the much-needed, positive health benefits on a daily basis."
Like humans, overweight pets are at a greater risk for heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and potentially a shortened life expectancy. To help combat pet obesity, the 2008 PetFit Challenge was designed by experts to empower pet owners with the most up-to-date medical information, weight-loss tools and prevention resources to help keep their pets healthy. The emphasis of this program is to encourage pet owners to work with their veterinarian to assure their pets are at the right weight to live a long healthy life.
To get America's pets on track, Hill's and the AVMA are taking the PetFit Challenge on the road. The PetFit Tour, a mobile interactive "science museum," will visit 18 cities across the country, helping to give pet owners a unique, hands-on experience to better understand pet obesity and learn how to help their cat or dog live a healthier lifestyle. This interactive encounter offers owners a chance to learn Gunnar's People and Pets workouts, weigh their cat or dog and receive tailored information from specially trained PetFit experts who include certified veterinary technicians and veterinary school students. Additionally, partnerships with veterinary hospitals and clinics across the country will provide local resources to owners of overweight pets.
Pet owners also can log on to www.PetFit.com to download Gunnar's workout video for free and to submit their own pet weight loss success story for a chance to win the America's Fittest Pets contest and an opportunity for their cat or dog to appear in a Hill's advertisement.
"Through our partnership with Hill's, we hope to inspire pet owners to take the weight of their four-legged friends very seriously, as it can be a life-threatening issue," said Gregory S. Hammer, D.V.M., President of the AVMA. "This challenge offers a unique way to shed light on the effects of bad pet health habits, while encouraging pet owners to take action in a fun, new way."
Poor eating and snacking habits and a lack of exercise greatly contribute to weight gain in pets. For example, just five extra pounds on a medium size dog, like a Beagle, is the equivalent of nearly 25 additional pounds on an average woman. And, for a medium size cat, like a Siamese, four extra pounds equals 45 additional pounds on an average woman. The PetFit Tour will house portable weight packs to illustrate for pet owners how this extra weight feels to their pets.
"With the backing of the AVMA and the exercise tips designed by Gunnar Peterson, we are arming pet owners with the tools they need to help their dogs and cats get fit today," said Janet Donlin, DVM, Chief of the Veterinary Business Channel, Hill's Pet Nutrition. "Proper nutrition and exercise can help extend the life of a dog or cat, and prevent some of the serious diseases associated with excessive weight gain. Today, we hope pet owners with the support of their veterinarians will take the pledge to better the lives of their own pets."
Additionally, AVMA and Hill's strongly urge pet owners to consult with their veterinarian to determine the best weight management food and exercise plan for their pet's needs.
For more information on the PetFit challenge, fitness video and tools along with the tour schedule, pet owners can visit www.PetFit.com.
About the American Veterinary Medical Association
The AVMA, founded in 1863, is the oldest and largest veterinary medical organizations in the world, with more than 76,000 member veterinarians are engaged in a wide variety of professional activities. AVMA members are dedicated to advancing the science and art of veterinary medicine including its relationship to animal, human and public health and welfare. Visit AVMA.org to learn more about veterinary medicine and animal care and to access up-to-date information on the association's issues, policies and activities.
About Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc.
Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc. manufactures Prescription Diet® brand pet foods, therapeutic pet foods available only through veterinarians, and Science Diet® brand pet foods sold through veterinarians and finer pet specialty stores. Founded more than 55 years ago with a unique commitment to pet nutrition and well-being, Hill's has never wavered from its mission to help enrich and lengthen the special relationships between people and their pets. Hill's produces high-quality, great-tasting pet foods owners can trust and provide to their canine and feline companions as part of a veterinary health care team recommendation. This ultimately improves patient health and the health of the practice. For more information on Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc. and Hill's Evidence-Based Clinical Nutrition™ visit HillsVet.com.
