NBCUniversal Launches Second Annual "Healthy Week," as Part of Company-Wide Health Initiative, May 21 - 27

NEW YORK, May 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- NBCUniversal will launch its second annual "Healthy Week" May 21-27, as part of its company-wide health initiative, "Healthy at NBCU," designed to inform and activate audiences around health and wellness.  "Healthy Week" leverages the breadth of trusted names and brands across the NBCUniversal portfolio to provide consumers with today's most pressing health-related news, and encourage them to adopt healthier habits in their daily routine.

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Building on the success of last year's inaugural "Healthy Week," NBCUniversal will bring fitness to life with the "Go Healthy Step-a-Thon" in New York City, free and open to the public May 23-25. Sponsored by Walgreens and located in the heart of Times Square, the installation will encourage New Yorkers to join their favorite NBCUniversal brands in taking an active "step" towards a healthier lifestyle as they climb up and around a maze of stairs. A digital ticker will track and display every step taken, and will count towards a donation NBCUniversal will make to the American Cancer Society's Choose You campaign – a movement that challenges women to make healthier choices in the fight against cancer.

"The Go Healthy Step-a-Thon brings health awareness to the street in a way that is both fun and engaging," said Debra Goetz, VP of Healthy at NBCU. "In a city like New York, where people can walk everyday, we hope this installation is a reminder that small steps can lead to a healthier and happier life."

Throughout the week, many NBCUniversal stars will step into the spotlight – literally – participating in Go Healthy Step-a-Thon fitness challenges. Several of the famed housewives from Bravo's "The Real Housewives of New York City" will kick off the active fun as they race up and around the steps. Other notable NBCUniversal talent and characters will participate, including Joy Bauer (NBC's Today Show), Mika Brzezinski (MSNBC's Morning Joe), contestants from the Biggest Loser, fitness pros from Exercise TV, Barney™ the Dinosaur (Sprout), and more. A complete schedule of appearances and activities can be found at http://www.healthyatnbcu.com/step-a-thon.

Throughout the week, health-related content will air across NBCUniversal brands, both on-air and online. Following are highlights of the "Healthy Week" programming:

NBC News: "Be Well, Be Healthy," a series focusing on nutritional literacy, will air across Today Show, NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams and MSNBC.

CNBC: will feature reports on investing and healthcare innovation throughout the network's Business Day programming. The Suze Orman show will also focus on the high-cost of smoking and obesity. In addition, CNBC will air health-related documentaries including "One Nation, Overweight" and "Cigarette Wars."

NBC: The Biggest Loser: Couples will air its season finale during Healthy Week.  

The Weather Channel: health experts will appear live in-studio and on weather.com to discuss skin health, allergies and outdoor fitness.

DailyCandy: will feature "Go Outside and Play" fitness guides in their daily newsletter, as well as offer healthy deals all weeklong, from brands including Blueprint Cleanse, PUMA bikes and others.

TV One: will air "Let's Move" with First Lady Michelle Obama, a one hour special focusing on the First Lady's effort to end childhood obesity. Washington Watch with Roland Martin will look at health issues facing African Americans.

Access Hollywood: will feature health-themed show segments focusing on celebrity fitness and diet.

Telemundo: will air daily cooking segments in Levantate, offering viewers healthy recipe tips and meals. All Telemundo stations, including NY, LA, Dallas, Miami, Chicago and Las Vegas, will feature health stories in early newscasts.  

Style: will air healthy-oriented episodes on some of its most popular series during the network's signature Nightcap time period, including How Do I Look? and Clean House. Interstitials with tips on exercising, positive attitude and skin issues will run on-air, while mystyle.com will feature daily blog posts on a range of wellness topics, as well as provide exclusive discounts to health-focused retailers.

E! Entertainment Television: E! News will run a series of segments focusing on the latest in healthy living, including Hollywood's hottest diet and exercise trends.

Exercise TV: will air video tips themed around "10-Minute Trade-Offs" that give simple advice for adding physical activity to one's daily routine.

iVillage: will feature tips for healthier living, such as "Healthy Breakfast Makeovers," "The Best Workout For Your Body Type," and "Eat Smarter, Anytime, Anywhere."

Sprout: will air "a "Healthy Sproutlets Week" for preschoolers and their families on The Sunny Side Up Show.

Oxygen: Paris Hilton of Oxygen's upcoming series The World According to Paris will provide viewers with nutritional tips and wellness insights. Additionally, a "The More You Know" PSA featuring singer Aubrey O'Day of All About Aubrey will air. O'Day shares tips on moving more to help keep the pounds off.  

Mun2: hosts from 18 & Over will discuss healthy tips.

Bravo: healthy cooking content will be integrated into Pregnant in Heels.

WNBC: episodes from the docu-reality series, The Great American Health Challenge, will air throughout the week. The show calls on participants from the five boroughs to complete and compete in a series of healthy tasks.

NBCUniversal's Emmy-Award winning "The More You Know" public service campaign will air new messages throughout the week on nutrition, physical activity and childhood obesity.

NBCUniversal is also committed to spreading health awareness and inspiring healthier lives throughout its own workforce. Employees will receive enhanced wellness benefits, including "lunch & learn" sessions on health topics, free on-site fitness facilities and classes, organized community fitness events and free medical screenings.

"Healthy Week" nutritional literacy resources are available year-round at http://www.healthyatnbcu.com.

About Healthy at NBCU:

Launched in 2010, Healthy at NBCU is NBCUniversal's company-wide initiative designed to connect consumers, marketers and employees with a breadth of health and wellness content. NBCU leverages its news and entertainment properties to raise awareness around today's most pressing health-related issues. Healthy tips, along with information on nutritional literacy and fitness are available throughout the year at http://www.healthyatnbcu.com/

SOURCE NBCUniversal