NEW YORK (PIX11) -- Monday is World Obesity Day, and New York City is partnering with the NFL Alumni Tackle Obesity program to make obesity an issue that is combatted all month long.

On World Obesity Day, the group will be on hand as the city declares March Tackle Obesity Month.

The organization is also partnering with the city on a variety of issues to combat the disease.

Russ Allen is the volunteer director of the group.

“We're going to be working with civic and corporate leaders throughout the community to ignite and inspire their people, their staff, to engage in this program, get control of their weight and live healthier and longer lives,” Allen said. “I work with a number of former NFL players and have seen their lives transform by getting control of their weight and then learning how to keep it off.”

The organization’s mantra is obesity is a medical condition- not a character flaw.

It wants people suffering to know- that there is help out there.

Dr. Holly Lofton is the medical director for the program. She said obesity is a disease that can lead to other illnesses.

“It’s an opportunity for the condition that impacts so many American adults and children to be aware that we shouldn’t stigmatize,” Lofton said. “People get caught up in blaming themselves or someone else’s condition when in the medical field, we do have treatments.”

Michel Faulkner played for the New York Jets in the 1981 season. He has lost 50 pounds and said that has changed his life.

“My numbers are down, my blood pressure, my all of those indicators for poor health or declining health are no longer a factor for me," Faulkner said.

He said it's easy for him and many other NFL players to gain weight once retirement or injuries happen.

The former Jet made the change through the help of the NFL Alumni’s Tackle Obesity program.

He’s now a coach for the program that helps former players and the community. He said it's easy for him and many other NFL players to gain weight once retirement or injuries happen.

“Many guys who played in the NFL played in the league you could eat in a certain way and do certain things while you played, but the minute you stop playing your weight became a problem. That weight that was a plus before now becomes a minus,” Faulkner said.