News Release

Acting U.S. Surgeon General Promotes “Healthy Youth for a Healthy Future” in Baltimore

Acting U.S. Surgeon General Steven K.Galson, M.D., M.P.H., will make a fifth stop on his nationwide tour to promote the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Childhood Overweight and Obesity Prevention Initiative on April 2 in Baltimore. The initiative targets prevention of overweight and obesity prevention, and the promotion of healthy lifestyles, for young people.

The “Healthy Youth for a Healthy Future” initiative focuses on recognizing and showcasing those communities throughout the nation that are addressing childhood overweight and obesity prevention by helping kids stay active, encouraging healthy eating habits, and promoting healthy choices.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to visit communities across the country, like Baltimore, and meet first-hand with those actively engaged in finding ways to prevent childhood overweight and obesity,” said Dr. Galson.

In Baltimore, Dr. Galson will meet with key community stakeholders including representatives from business, industry, academia and other local leaders to discuss childhood obesity prevention and learn about existing prevention programs. This event will also feature presentations by officials from the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and Baltimore City Council.

According to data from the 2005 Youth Risk Behavior Survey 12.6 percent of high school students in Maryland were overweight and only 32.4 percent of students met the recommended levels of physical activity.

Additional information on the Surgeon General’s Initiative can be found at http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/obesityprevention.html

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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.

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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.

Last revised: September 04, 2008