List of Shows


Featured Blogs

Celebrity Photos Celebrity Hair Styles The Buzz Dirty Laundry The Wire

Tell your friends

TELL YOUR FRIENDS

Guiding Light - NEWS ROOM

In our 'Guiding Light' News Room, Soaps.com keeps you up-to-date with the latest Soap Opera news on the net. We also feature interviews with the soap stars, as well as local appearances by the actors and actresses.

Guiding Light's Caitlin Van Zandt to Walk on the Capitol

Monday, June 02 2008
Comments (4)


Caitlin Van Zandt (CBS)
Caitlin Van Zandt (Ashlee Wolf) has just landed herself a new gig. The Guiding Light star has signed on as the guest speaker for this year's National obesity event. "The Walk from Obesity - Walk on the Capitol" is being held in Washington, DC. on June the 17th at 6:30 PM. The event will involve thousands of people joining together to bring awareness to the nationwide epidemic. Currently, estimates are that at least 93 million Americans are obese and that number is predicted to rise substantially in the coming years. The Walk on the Capitol's goal is to promote prevention efforts and improve access to safe and effective treatment options for the one in three Americans suffering from this epidemic. Participants will walk along the National Mall between 4th and 7th Streets and loop for half a mile. It is free and open to the public.

In a press release, Van Zandt stated: "I decided to make a big change because I wanted to avoid potential health problems that could arise from this condition. My goal is to become healthy and happy. By participating in this event, I want to help others understand the physical and emotional impact of this disease and to give people hope that their lives do not need to be compromised by obesity." The actress' struggle with obesity has also featured heavily in her on-screen character recently. Although Ashlee never seemed concerned about her weight previously, when the actress decided to undergo Lap-Band weight reduction surgery, the writers had to quickly work it into the scheme of things. This choice and her experience with the procedure were also documented on Entertainment Tonight to help raise awareness.

The Walk on the Capitol is being hosted by the Obesity Action Coalition with the support of a variety of partnering non-profit organizations. For more information on the event, its organizers and how to get involved, please visit their official website.


email PRINTABLE VERSION - View a printer friendly version of this article

Please register and login to be able to email this article to your friends

Comments (4)

USER COMMENTS

Posted by wanita at Tuesday, June 03 2008 03:28 PM

good for her, I thought the last time I saw her that she looked like she lost some weight, that is great!!

Posted by 3Puppies at Tuesday, June 03 2008 03:31 PM

Congratulations to Caitlin for having the stamina to avoid a possible health crisis later in life. This had to be a tough decision to make but more power to her for doing that. Again, Congratulations and good luck in the future.

Posted by old.soapfan at Wednesday, June 04 2008 05:54 PM

I'm super proud of Caitlin for taking control of her life. I wish Congress would pass some sort of health care policy that would provide funding for people like myself who can't afford the surgery but desperately needs it. I don't understand insurance companies, they know I'm obese and they know the chances of me developing diabetes and heart disease is way more likely in my present condition and having this surgery could help prevent these awful things from happening and save them thousands of dollars just where I'm concerned, imagine if they did that for everyone they could save millions. Sorry to get off subject, I'm just so passionate about the subject because it affects me directly. Big kudos to Caitlin, you go girl.

Posted by Capricorn35 at Tuesday, July 01 2008 09:40 PM

old soapfan.....

I am sure the reason congress and your medical insurer will not pay for surgery is because believe it or not the surgery is considered a cosmetic procedure. Also, obesity is in most cases a preventable disease. No one is born fat and stays that way because of something they are born with, like a tumor or a disease. Obesity doesn't just "strike" you. Obeesity occurs because of a poor diet, doctors see it that way, the medical community sees it that way. Many may even think that getting the lap band is cheating because there are ways to lose weight not surgically. I know because I've battled with my weight all of my life.

Sorry if my comments offended anyone, I am just speaking as someone who knows all about gaining and losing weight. I am happy that Caitlin chose to do something that she feels is right for her and she was honest about it.

MORE COMMENTS: page:

Please Register and login to post your comments.
» Back to News Room