Richard Simmons | James F. Sallis, Ph.D. | Robert K. Ross, M.D. | Tom Torlakson
Richard Simmons, Fitness Expert & FIT Kids Act Advocate
Thirty years and 3,000,000 pounds later, Richard Simmons is still going strong. Using his unique wit, passion and enthusiasm, Simmons, the nation’s most revered fitness expert, continues his crusade to reach out to the masses, encouraging them to take control of their fitness destiny. Delivering a serious message with his trademark humor, Simmons has helped millions of overweight men and women lose more than 3,000,000 pounds by adopting sensible balanced eating programs and exercise regimes that are energetic, fun and motivating.
Growing up in the French quarter of New Orleans, where lard was a food group and dessert mandatory, Richard weighed 268 pounds when he graduated high school. An entrepreneur at a tender age, Simmons sold pralines on New Orleans street corners where he learned to charm and entertain his customers. After trying everything from bizarre diets to laxatives, Simmons took control of his weight problem by adopting a lifestyle of balance, moderate eating and exercise.
Simmons prevailed over his own weight problem before relocating to Los Angeles in 1973. There was no significant fitness movement in this country at the time, and to no avail, Simmons attempted to find a health club that wasn’t for people who were already in shape. After traversing the county, and unable to find a facility open to people of all shapes and sizes, his only alternative was to create that safe haven. In 1974, after consulting with doctors and nutritionists to ensure the safety of a program tailored to the needs of everyone, from the overweight and obese, physically challenged to the seniors, a determined Simmons established an innovative place where the overweight of the world were welcomed with open arms. This program was met with instant success and continues today at SLIMMONS in Beverly Hills, where Richard still teaches. While many of his legions of fans are overweight, he also resonates with everyman, anyone who has a few pounds to lose and wants to be fit.
Simmons’ success as a fitness expert and advocate led to numerous local and national television and radio appearances including a four-year run on “General Hospital”, followed by his own nationally syndicated series, “The Richard Simmons Show”. The show ran for four years and received several Emmy Awards.
Knowing that exercise and weight loss regimes must go hand-in hand, Simmons has created a series of products that integrate the two components of a sensible weight loss program. Deal-A-Meal and the FoodMover help people keep track of their food intake through the use of a device to keep track of calories and portions. His 50 fitness videos, which have sold over 20 million copies, pair lively music, with rockin’ routines and Simmons’ humorous banter and encouragement. His newest exercise DVDs, released in January 2010, are “Sweatin to the Oldies 5” and “Tonin’ to the Oldies.” All of Richard’s programs offer well-known and wildly popular songs, personally selected by him for the ultimate workout experience.
As the author of nine books, including the New York Times Best Seller, “Never Say Diet”, Richard released his autobiography, “Still Hungry-After All These Years” in 1998. He is also the author of three best-selling cookbooks. In 2010 Simmons will lead his 29th Cruise to Lose program aboard Carnival Cruise Lines. Guests cruise from New Orleans to Belize, Isla Roatan and Cozumel.
Throughout the years Richard still gets his greatest satisfaction from reaching out and literally touching his students. Recognizing that his audience spans all across America, Simmons averages some 250 days on tour each year. Whether it’s a women’s expo, a nursing home, a high school, children’s hospital, shopping mall or a corporate seminar, Simmons considers himself fortunate to come face to face with hundreds of thousands of people each year. Concerned about the financial impact of obesity in the workplace, several executive organizations have recently invited Simmons to speak to their members about ways to encourage their workers to lose weight.
Alarmed by the growing epidemic of childhood obesity, Richard helped launch the Fit Kids Bill in Congress with the help of Congressmen Zach Wamp and Ron Kind. The effort is to ensure that physical education classes are reinstated or remain a part of the curriculum in public schools. Richard testified before a congressional committee and spoke of his own personal battle as an overweight child.
Still fighting the fitness battle with humor and enthusiasm, Simmons vows to never give up and promises that he will continue his crusade until it’s time for him to teach classes at the Pearly Gates.
James F. Sallis, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University
James F. Sallis, Ph.D. is Distinguished Professor of Family and Preventive Medicine at University of California, San Diego and Director of Active Living Research, a program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. His primary research interests are promoting physical activity and understanding policy and environmental influences on physical activity, nutrition, and obesity. He has made contributions in the areas of measurement, correlates of physical activity, intervention, and advocacy. His health improvement programs have been studied and used in health care settings, schools, universities, and companies. He is an author of over 400 scientific publications and one of the world's most cited authors in the social sciences.
Dr. Sallis has received awards from the American College of Sports Medicine, Society of Behavioral Medicine, and American Psychological Association Division of Health Psychology. His current focus is using research to inform policy and environmental changes that will increase physical activity and reduce childhood obesity. He is a frequent consultant to universities, health organizations, and corporations worldwide. Time Magazine identified him as an "obesity warrior".
Robert K. Ross, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer The California Endowment
Robert K. Ross, M.D., is president and chief executive officer for The California Endowment, a health foundation established in 1996 to address the health needs of Californians. Prior to his appointment in September 2000, Dr. Ross served as director of the Health and Human Services Agency for the County of San Diego from 1993 to 2000, and Commissioner of Public Health for the City of Philadelphia from 1990 to 1993. Dr. Ross has an extensive background as a clinician and public health administrator. His service includes: medical director for LINK School-Based Clinic Program, Camden, New Jersey; instructor of clinical medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; and faculty member at San Diego State University’s School of Public Health.
Dr. Ross has been actively involved in community and professional activities at both the local and national level. He served as a member of the National Vaccine Advisory Committee, and on the boards of the National Marrow Donor Program, San Diego United Way and Jackie Robinson YMCA. He is a Diplomate of the American Academy of Pediatrics, served on the President’s Summit for America’s Future and as chairman of the national Boost for Kids Initiative. Dr. Ross received his undergraduate, masters in Public Administration and medical degrees from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
During his tenure at The California Endowment, the foundation has focused on the health needs of underserved Californians by championing the cause of health coverage for all children, strengthening the capacity of community health centers, improving health services for farm worker and ex-offender populations, and strengthening the pipeline for bringing racial and ethnic diversity to the health professions. He was also named by Capitol Weekly as one of California’s most influential civic leaders in health policy in 2006.
The California Endowment was established in 1996 to expand access to affordable, quality health care for underserved individuals and communities, and to promote fundamental improvements in the health status of all Californians. The Endowment makes grants to organizations and institutions that directly benefit the health and well-being of the people of California.
Tom Torlakson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Tom Torlakson is currently serving as California’s State Superintendent of Public Instruction. As chief of California’s public school system and leader of the California Department of Education, Superintendent Torlakson applies his experience as a science teacher, high school coach, and state policymaker to fight for our students and improve our state’s public education system.
Torlakson’s journey has led him from the classrooms of Contra Costa County’s Mount Diablo Unified School District (where he remains a teacher-on-leave), to the Antioch City Council, Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, the California State Senate and State Assembly.
During his tenure in the California State Legislature, Torlakson acted to protect education funding, improve student nutrition and physical education, and ensure school safety. He also championed legislation to increase funding for textbooks, computers, and other instructional materials and efforts to close the digital divide, eliminate the achievement gap, and reduce the dropout rate.
In 1998 Torlakson authored legislation leading to the development of the largest system of after school programs in the nation. In 2006, he authored the bill that led to a 300 percent expansion in these programs—so they now reach 4,000 schools around the state.
As the chair and founder of the California Task Force on Youth and Workplace Wellness, Torlakson has been a leader on banning junk food from our schools, providing healthier school meals, promoting student health and fitness, and combating diabetes and obesity among our children.
