News Release

The Office of the Surgeon General Launches New Web Page “Healthy Youth for a Healthy Future” Initiative

A new Web resource to help adults improve children’s eating and physical activity habits has been launched by the Office of the Surgeon General, under the leadership of Rear Adm. Steven K. Galson, M.D., M.P.H.

The resource on the Surgeon General’s Web site highlights “Healthy Youth for a Healthy Future,” the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) childhood overweight and obesity prevention initiative. The initiative addresses childhood overweight and obesity prevention by helping kids stay active, encouraging healthy eating habits, and promoting healthy choices.

The resource is at http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/obesityprevention/. It houses information on all of the other HHS obesity prevention programs and initiatives, providing a comprehensive listing for members of the public looking for program information, resources, and tools.

One of the main features of the Web site is the Surgeon General’s Pledge, which invites all to join in the effort to help prevent childhood overweight and obesity and secure a healthy future for our children. It can be downloaded at the site. The pledge calls on those who care about our children’s future to:

• Be a role model by making healthy choices for myself.
• Help children be physically active through everyday play and participation in sports.
• Support children’s healthy eating habits.

“By taking a few simple steps such as helping children engage in physical activity and healthy eating, parents, schools, teachers, communities, and businesses can serve as role models and together become a powerful force to protect our children’s health,” said Dr. Galson. “I invite you to log on and access your pledge to promote “Healthy Youth for a Healthy Future.”

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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