LEWISBURG, PA--(Marketwire - November 29, 2010) - Playworld Systems, a leading manufacturer of imaginative playground equipment, today announced it has become an associate member of the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation (HWCF), a national coalition designed to help reduce obesity -- especially childhood obesity -- by 2015.

"With obesity rates steadily on the rise, we believe it's critical to work with organizations such as HWCF to arm people with information and provide access to products to help them get fit and reap the benefits of a healthy, active lifestyle," said Ian Proud, director of research for Playworld Systems. 

HWCF brings together more than 125 retailers, food and beverage manufacturers, restaurants, sporting goods and insurance companies, trade associations and NGOs, as well as professional sports organizations to help with its mission. 

"Getting people regularly engaged in physical activities is crucial to promoting a healthy lifestyle and combating obesity. Make it fun, and more kids -- and adults -- will get outdoors and get into the spirit," said Lisa Gable, executive director of The Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation. "Playworld Systems' innovative recreation products create fun new ways for people of all ages and abilities to get up and get outdoors to exercise, and that's half the battle. We are proud to have the support of such like-minded companies that understand the importance of having children and adults regularly engaged in physical activities." 

The coalition's goal is to help people achieve "energy balance" -- to find a balance between energy consumed (caloric intake) and energy exerted through physical activities. HWCF provides funding and support for programs and activities designed to help people achieve a healthy weight.

About Playworld Systems, Inc.
Playworld Systems, a third-generation family-owned company headquartered in Lewisburg, Pa., has been a leader in imaginatively designed and customized commercial recreation and playground equipment for more than 30 years. With the belief that The World Needs Play®, Playworld Systems creates equipment that brings the joy of play to people of every age through such innovative product lines as ENERGI™, LifeTrail® Advanced, Playworld™ PlayDesigns®, and NatureForms™. Playworld Systems has invested significant resources to measurably reduce its carbon footprint, from eliminating PVCs to enhancing its waste management and recycling programs. In fact, Playworld Systems is the first major U.S. playground manufacturer to remove 99.999 percent of PVC from its products.

The company has received numerous awards throughout the years, including two International Industrial Design Excellence Awards, a gold medal from International Design magazine, two News Directors' Choice Awards on Early Childhood, and the Pennsylvania Governors' Award for Safety Excellence. Along with these awards, Playworld Systems was a consultant to the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board). For more information, visit www.PlayworldSystems.com.

For more information about the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation, visit www.HealthyWeightCommit.org.