Super Bowl Champion Eli Manning Challenges Nation to...( WASHINGTON March 11 -- Eli Manni...),Health

WASHINGTON, March 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Eli Manning, NFL Most Valuable Player 2008 and the quarterback of Super Bowl XLII Champions New York Giants, will address a National Press Club breakfast on Thursday, March 20, kicking off a new national challenge to encourage Americans to be more active.

Appointed by President Bush to serve on the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, Manning will launch the first nationwide effort to register one million Americans for the National President's Challenge. The six-week program is designed to help combat obesity by raising levels of physical activity among Americans and creating a competition among participating states led by the nation's governors.

Acting U.S. Surgeon General Steven Galson, M.D., M.P.H. will give remarks on the scope of the obesity crisis, the HHS initiative to prevent childhood obesity, and federal efforts to encourage Americans to live healthier lives.

Obesity has been called the fastest-growing health threat in the country. Two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese. Children are three times more likely to be overweight now than in 1980. More than half of American adults do not get adequate physical activity.

Breakfast will begin at 9:30 a.m. with remarks at 10:00 a.m. followed by a question and answer session. The event will be held in the Holeman Lounge of the National Press Club, 13th Floor, 529 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C., two blocks from Metro Center subway station.

Tickets are limited to National Press Club Members, and one guest per member. For reservations, please call (202) 662-7501, or email pnelson@press.org. Cost of the breakfast is $16 for National Press Club members, $28 for guests of members. Media coverage is open to credentialed press.