Las Vegas National Obesity Summit 10:30 AM Oct 1 Keynote Features 4-Star Gen. Barry McCaffrey, NJ City Official Mike Theokas (Lost 400 lbs From 654), Country's Top Behavioral Treatment Provider CRC Health Group's Andy Eckert, Obesity Clinical Expert Eliza Kingsford

10:30 AM-NOON MON. OCT 1, AT BELLAGIO HOTEL TOWER BALLROOM

KEYNOTE OPEN TO MEDIA, PRESS AVAIL W/Q&A FOLLOWING WITH GEN. MCCAFFREY & VIPS AT LIFESTYLE INTERVENTION CONFERENCE

LAS VEGAS, Sept. 25, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A Las Vegas National Obesity Summit Keynote 10:30 AM- Noon Monday, October 1 at the Bellagio Hotel (Tower Ballroom) will feature Four-Star General (Ret) and former White House Drug Czar Barry McCaffrey, New Jersey city official (Hightstown Borough Administrator) Mike Theokas who dropped almost 400 pounds from 654, the country's leading behavioral treatment provider CEO, Andrew Eckert, whose CRC Health Group has 140 facilities across the country, and Eliza Kingsford, Clinical Director of the nationally acclaimed Wellspring at Structure House.  The McCaffrey-led panel is entitled, "Obesity—How Can We Address the National Epidemic?" 

The Las Vegas event, the Lifestyle Intervention Conference, is the only national conference focused on intervention, food addiction, and recovery, according to Michael Cartwright, conference organizer, who will introduce McCaffrey.  Before serving as the nation's Drug Czar, Gen. McCaffrey was a division commander in the Gulf War, Commander of all U.S. troops in Latin America, Assistant to Colin Powell at the National Security Council, West Point National Security Professor, and now is a national security and behavioral policy expert in the media.

McCaffrey and the summit will point to new data showing that obesity now costs  Americans more in health expenditures than smoking. McCaffrey said, "There will be 120 million obese Americans within the next five years—up from 90 million. These numbers are astonishing, and they are a big part of increasing health care expenses due to diabetes and heart issues.  The lives of children and adults are both at stake.  We must act nationally and locally."

Eckert called addressing obesity "a mission.  It's imperative to help stop the epidemic of obesity at all ages.  Our nation and our communities are at risk."

Theokas has talked about the "different life" he now leads, "life-changing experiences" of being "half the man I used to be," including traveling more easily, being healthier and feeling far better, and the joy of the world looking at him differently. 

The three-day conference will be attended by over 1000 professionals and experts to discuss intervention techniques and treatment solutions. 

The keynote session Monday from 10:30 AM-Noon, at the Bellagio Hotel's Tower Room, is open to the media and will be followed in an adjoining area by a press Q&A availability.

Contact: Bob Weiner/Richard Mann 301-283-0821 cell 202-306-1200 [email protected]

SOURCE Robert Weiner Associates