Our Surgeon General

February 8, 2010

Everett Koop, US Surgeon General under President Ronald Reagan shocked the country by stating that tobacco was bad for us. The most shocking aspect of this was the fact that the US Surgeon General actually said something!
Since then, our country has actually had Surgeon Generals who have been engaged with health realities in our country. Now we have the present Surgeon General, Dr. Regina Benjamin, her own shocking statements. What are these shocking statements?
“Today’s epidemic of overweight and obesity threatens the historic progress we have made in increasing American’s quality and years of healthy life. The hard facts:
• Two-thirds of adults and nearly one in three children are overweight or obese.
• 70% of American Indian/Alaskan Native adults are overweight or obese.
• The prevalence of obesity in the U.S. more than doubled (from 15% to 34%) among adults and more than tripled (from 5% to 17%) among children and adolescents from 1980 to 2008.
• An obese teenager has over a 70% greater risk of becoming an obese adult.
• Obesity is more common among non-Hispanic black teenagers (29%) than Hispanic teenagers (17.5%) or non-Hispanic white teenagers (14.5%).
To stop the obesity epidemic in this country, we must remember that Americans will be more likely to change their behavior if they have a meaningful reward- something more than just reaching a certain weight or dress size. The real reward has to be something that people can feel and enjoy and celebrate. That reward is invigorating, energizing, joyous health. It is a level of health that allows people to embrace each day and live their lives to the fullest – without disease, disability, or lost productivity. To be a nation that is Healthy and Fit.”
Dr. Benjamin’s words are much more than a political statement. She has spoken of an aspect of our culture that being our corporate and political structures, have long ignored or buried, depending on your view. This is the role that our lifestyle habits have now become national political and economic issues.
Go Regina!

LouAnn Good
Fitness Together Fort Myers