WASHINGTON -- McDonald's Corp. today unveiled a balanced lifestyles platform to help address obesity in America and improve the nation's overall physical well-being. The multi-year plan, focusing on children and adults, promotes the importance of balance and includes significant efforts in the areas of food choices, physical activity and education, McDonald's officials said."This is a complex issue that is affecting many people throughout the world," said Jim Skinner, vice chairman of McDonald's Corp. "As a customer-driven organization, we are committed to playing a responsible and active role to be part of the solution. Our restaurants around the world are fully engaged in this important effort. We are proud of our accomplishments and remain committed to doing even more."The goal of McDonald's multi-disciplinary plan is to educate, assist, and engage consumers in ways that change individual behavior, resulting in better food/energy balance in their lives, the company said in a news release. In the United States, McDonald's will work with the nation's foremost health, nutrition, and education experts to develop and implement a broad-based consumer education campaign to help Americans achieve a healthier, balanced lifestyle."Poor eating habits and inactivity are contributing factors to Americans' declining health. There are small steps that we can take everyday to protect our health, including being physically active everyday and eating a nutritious diet," said Tommy G. Thompson, Secretary of Health and Human Services. "This announcement by McDonald's is a positive step toward helping Americans make healthier choices."McDonald's also will work with HHS to determine the most effective ways to communicate food nutrition information to consumers, both in restaurants and through broad-based consumer education. As part of the balanced lifestyles plan, McDonald's will also encourage more than 600,000 U.S. restaurant employees to take the first steps in leading healthy, active lives by providing them with Stepometers (TM) and education materials to promote walking and well-being.McDonald's officials said the balanced lifestyle platform is focused on food choices, education and physical activity. Highlights of the comprehensive platform include:National launch of the first-ever "Go Active!(TM) Adult Happy Meal." Designed to promote the importance of food/energy balance, this Happy Meal for adults includes a Premium Salad, bottled water, and a Stepometer(TM) so consumers can track their daily steps. There will also be a brochure that promotes walking as an attainable -- and effective -- exercise goal. Authored by exercise physiologist Bob Greene, Oprah Winfrey's personal trainer, and endorsed by the American College of Sports Medicine, consumers can use the brochure as a stepping stone to create their own exercise and physical activity routines. National launch of McDonald's New Happy Meal Choices. New Happy Meal choices give parents and children the opportunity to mix and match offerings. The new offerings include Apple Dippers(R) (fresh, peeled apple slices) served with a low-fat caramel dipping sauce, and new beverage choices including 100% pure apple juice, white and chocolate 1% Milk Jugs, served in child-friendly containers. New McDonald's Menu Choice Ordering Options. Available nationally, these options include the ability to order burgers and other sandwiches "low-carb-style," without the buns, and a "Simple Steps" brochure that shows customers how to order across the menu to lower fat, calories and carbohydrates if desired. In addition, McDonald's will test providing nutrition information on Happy Meals in parent-approved and child-friendly ways, and is providing detailed nutrition information on trayliners and in-restaurant "McDonald's & You" Nutrition Facts brochures and on the food and nutrition section of www.mcdonalds.com, which receives more than 250,000 customer visits every month. This site also includes a unique, interactive tool, called "Bag-a-McMeal," which allows consumers to select any combination of McDonald's menu items and the nutritional values are automatically calculated for them."