B'More Fit: Jennifer Hudson Joins Mayor In Fight Against Obesity

BALTIMORE (WJZ)—City leaders and a celebrity join together to fight obesity in Baltimore. Jennifer Hudson was in Charm City to get the word out about B'More Fit!

Monique Griego has more.

"American Idol" alum and now Hollywood star Jennifer Hudson fought and won a battle with her weight.

Now as an ambassador for Weight Watchers, she's trying to encourage others to get healthy.

"You can do it. I myself thought Weight Watchers was crazy when they came to me. I'm like 'I can't lose no weight eating no popcorn,'" Hudson said.

Hudson joined the mayor, city health leaders and Weight Watchers representatives to announce an expansion of B'More Fit for Healthy Babies program thanks to a new grant.

"To serve more women in the Patterson Park and Druid Hill neighborhoods as well as men, women and seniors in the Park Heights community," said Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.

The program aims to curb obesity rates and foster healthy lifestyles in low-income communities.

Graphic statistics show 36 percent of people in Baltimore City are obese. That's higher than the national average of 35.7 percent and Maryland's average of 28.3 percent.

A major part of the program focuses on stopping childhood obesity.

"Children deserve a healthy start in life, and our families and communities need to take action," Rawlings-Blake said.

Obese children are at a greater risk for developing diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

But with the help of Weight Watchers, the city hopes to not only help them, but their parents who are struggling to start a healthy lifestyle.

"It works if you work it, so you have to work it and you have to make it work for you," Hudson said.

Anyone with a body mass index of 25 or higher is considered overweight, 30 or higher is considered obese.

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