The Center for Weight Management, a cooperative venture between St. Joseph’s Area Health Services and Innovis Health Park Rapids, is set to host a Walk from Obesity on Saturday, Oct. 3, at the Smokey Hills Wilderness Retreat and Conference Center in Osage. This walk will be held in conjunction with the 3rd Annual Weekend in the Pines Weight Management event to be held during the retreat Oct. 2 and 3.

In cities all across America, those affected by obesity will join forces and walk to raise money for research, education, prevention and treatment of the life-threatening disease of obesity. In 2008, the Walk from Obesity raised more than $800,000 and the goal this year is to raise $1 million.

Funds raised through this event will support the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) Foundation and the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) in their efforts to increase research funding for obesity, improve awareness of the negative stigma associated with obesity and provide educational resources for all those affected by this disease.

Cost to participate in the Walk and to show your support for all those affected by obesity is $25. Registration is free for children 12 and under. To register for the 2009 Walk from Obesity, please visit http://www.walkfromobesity.com.

For more information about the Walk from Obesity or the Weekend in the Pines events, please contact Missy Lindow, Lifestyle Counselor at the Center for Weight Management; (218) 255-4311.

The OAC and ASMBS Foundation’s Walk from Obesity was established to raise awareness of the obesity epidemic and to support initiatives focusing on prevention, education, research, treatment and advocacy. Walkers raise money by asking friends, family, and co-workers to sponsor them. In addition to walker income, funds are raised through sponsorship, matching gifts, corporate contributions and other fundraising activities.