Health Net of California Joins Forces with Weight Watchers to Help Children Fight Obesity.

News, Lifestyle & Health Editors

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 11, 2004

Study Published This Week Says Poor Eating Habits and Sedentary

Lifestyles Approach No. 1 Preventable Cause of Death

To help combat rising obesity rates among children

and adolescents, Health Net of California, one of the largest health plans in the state, has launched Weight Management - Be in Charge!(SM) - an innovative program created especially to help Medi-Cal members between the ages of 10 and 20 take control of their weight. For overweight members, the program includes access to the nationally recognized Weight Watchers International, Inc.(R) program for weight management.

According to a study in yesterday's Journal of the American Medical Association, deaths related to obesity nearly equal those related to smoking - the nation's No. 1 preventable cause of death.

"This program is an example of our commitment to providing services that are relevant to the communities we serve. Children and adolescents comprise 30 percent of Health Net's Medi-Cal membership," said Bruce Chernof, M.D., regional medical director for Health Net. "This new program is focused on helping our young members learn how to establish good eating and exercise habits that can help them prevent serious diseases like Type 2 diabetes - a disease that is on the rise, especially among ethnic minorities."

Recent studies have shown that Latinos experienced the greatest increase in obesity among any ethnic group in the nation. As part of the program, Health Net's Weight Management - Be in Charge! and Weight Watchers provide information and services in English and Spanish.

The goal of Weight Management - Be in Charge! is to help prevent obesity among children who are considered "at risk" of becoming overweight by guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The program also seeks to help youngsters already dealing with obesity. For children who are considered "overweight" by the CDC guidelines, physicians can refer their patients to the Weight Watchers program - free of charge. Health Net-contracting physicians will provide up to 10 pre-paid Weight Watchers weekly class attendance coupons.

"Our program provides information, knowledge, tools and motivation to help participants make healthier choices about nutrition and exercise," said Karen Miller-Kovach, MS, RD, chief scientist at Weight Watchers. "Together with Health Net, we are committed to helping California's youth reach and maintain a more healthful lifestyle."

In addition to the Weight Watchers program, members who meet guidelines will have 24-hour telephone access to a registered dietitian for personalized nutrition and weight-management education, resource materials and support for members and their families.

Weight Management - Be in Charge! also provides participants with multilingual educational materials about nutrition, physical activity and other lifestyle factors for all children, regardless of their weight. For more information about this new program, Health Net Medi-Cal members should contact their physician.

About Weight Watchers International, Inc.

Weight Watchers is America's trusted name in weight loss and the global leader in weight-loss services, with approximately 44,000 weekly meetings in 30 countries. With over 40 years of experience, Weight Watchers offers a wide range of solutions to meet the diverse needs of today's weight-conscious consumers. To learn more about Weight Watchers services, products and publications, visit WeightWatchers.com. To find the nearest Weight Watchers meeting location, call 1-800-651-6000 or click on the Find a Meeting link at the top of the Weight Watchers homepage.

About Health Net of California

Health Net of California, a subsidiary of Health Net, Inc. (NYSE:HNT), is one of the largest health plans in California, serving nearly 2.5 million members statewide. It contracts with more than 35,000 physicians, 300 hospitals and 4,600 pharmacies, giving its members greater choice and more convenient access to care. Its commercial lines of business have received "Excellent" accreditation status and its Medicare lines of business have received the "Commendable" accreditation status from the National Committee for Quality Assurance. For more information about Health Net, visit its award-winning Web site at www.health.net.