"DATELINE" PROFILES OBESE TEENS IN A RADICAL NEW WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM - FRIDAY, AUGUST 19

NEW YORK -- August 16, 2005 -- Nestled in the hills of central California, The Academy of the Sierras bills itself as the nation's first residential high school for overweight teenagers. The school is the focus of Rob Stafford's upcoming emotional and unique report, to be broadcast on "Dateline NBC" on Friday, Aug. 19 (8:00 PM/ET).

Last January, school officials granted "Dateline" extensive access to the campus, where teens from all over the country attend class, exercise rigorously, strictly monitor their diet, and learn to shed the emotional weight they've been carrying along with the extra pounds. The report focuses on four teens, aged 14 to 17, whose combined weight at the start of the semester tops half a ton. "Dateline" follows their trials and triumphs for five months as they leave family, friends and their old schools behind to tackle the biggest battle of their lives.

David Corvo is the executive producer of "Dateline NBC."