Star Jones to Host BET News Exclusive on Obesity in Black America

NEW YORK, Nov. 10 -- African-Americans are killing themselves,  slowly, and quietly, little by little, every day and the killer is not likely to  grab headlines or to bloody the streets. The murderous weapon is food, and many  African-Americans are, quite simply, eating themselves to death.  African-Americans are more overweight and obese than any other racial group and  at risk for developing heart disease, diabetes, stroke, hypertension, and  certain types of cancer.

On Sunday, November 15 at 10:00 p.m.* BET News and Star Jones take viewers  straight to one of the cities carrying the heaviest burden of this epidemic --  Jackson, Mississippi -- with a one-hour news special, HEART OF THE CITY: DYING  TO EAT IN JACKSON.

"I used to be scared to step out there on the issue of Obesity but I realized  that I wasn't being fair because I have a public platform and I need to use it  for good," said Star Jones, host of HEART OF THE CITY: DYING TO EAT IN JACKSON.  "I am not the 'poster child' for a specific weight loss method but I am a true  advocate for adopting a healthy lifestyle because with all humility, doing so  has saved my life."

Home to the U.S.'s largest population of African-Americans, the magnolia  state annually weighs in as America's fattest state. The state's capitol has  been called the canary in the coalmine for what awaits Black America should the  obesity issue continue to go unchecked. The prevalence of obesity among African  Americans in Mississippi is even greater than the national average for  African-Americans, especially among Black women. And more alarming, increasing  numbers of African-American children in the state are being diagnosed with  obesity-related illnesses that in the past had been only found in  adults.

"Obesity is a critical issue in our community that has not received the  attention it deserves," says Keith Brown, Senior Vice President of BET News and  Public Affairs. "It was important for us to focus not only on the problem, but  also on the inspiring stories of people taking control of their lives and making  positive change in their communities."

HEART OF THE CITY: DYING TO EAT IN JACKSON reveals a perfect storm of  socio-economic, cultural, environmental elements and individual lifestyle  choices that have caused so many of Jackson's citizens to become obese. Almost  one of every three Mississippians has a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater  -- the dividing line between being overweight and being obese. However, even in  the face of these grim statistics there is hope. The efforts of those who  determined to shrug off their city's dubious distinction are leading Jackson in  a new direction to trim the fat.

Through the use of personal accounts, compelling packages, startling  statistics and open dialogue between the community at risk and expert guests,  HEART OF THE CITY: DYING TO EAT IN JACKSON will lay out all the facts  surrounding obesity in Black America. Dr. David Satcher, Satcher Health  Leadership Institute, Morehouse School of Medicine; Dr. Aaron Shirley, Jackson  Medical Mall Foundation; Dr. Timothy Quinn, Mississippi family physician;  Barbara Broadwater and Rita Redd from Mississippi Against Obesity Foundation are  among the guest experts who will shed light on the growing problem.