U.S. Surgeon General

The U.S. Surgeon General has designated 2005 as the “Year of the Healthy Child.” Among other things, the Office of the Surgeon General will address immunizations, childhood obesity, healthy indoor environment, illness and injury prevention, and safe teen driving in an effort, as Dr. Carmona stated, to “ensure a healthier population for the next generation.”

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

“Learn the Signs. Act Early” is a new public awareness campaign from the CDC. The campaign’s focus is to help parents understand the physical and mental development of their young child in order to help them identify some of the early warning signs for developmental disabilities, such as autism.

“Take Pride in America’s Health: Volunteering as a gateway to physical activity” by J. Librett, PhD, M. Yore, MSPH, D. Buchner, MD, and T. Schmid, PhD in the January/February 2005 issue of the American Journal of Health Education. Based on the responses of 2,032 survey participants, the authors suggest that people who volunteer are more likely to meet physical activity recommendations than those who do not volunteer.

In partnership with the USDA and Department of Education, the Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) at CDC is helping to develop resources for schools to meet the requirements of the new local wellness policies that are to be in place by the 2006-2007 school year. The policy pertains to educational agencies participating in the USDA’s school meals program. In short, schools must develop goals for nutrition education, physical activity and other programs designed to promote student well-being.

Health Resources and Services Administration

My Bright Future: Physical Activity and Healthy Eating

A booklet and corresponding wallet guide teach young women about healthy eating and physical activity and ways to incorporate those things into everyday life.

Various institutes within NIH and national health and youth organizations came together to develop WE CAN! (Ways to Enhance Children’s Activity & Nutrition), a program targeting parents and caregivers of children ages 8 to 13. WE CAN! provides resources to help encourage healthy eating and physical activity. The program website contains information for parents, caregivers, communities, and media, including a handbook in English and Spanish.

NIH National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

NIEHS held the second annual conference on obesity and the environment June 1-2. This year’s theme focused on childhood obesity. Keynotes were given by Secretary Leavitt, Surgeon General Carmona, PCPFS Council Chair Lynn Swann, and Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. Speaker presentations and supplemental information can be found on the conference website.

Office on Minority Health

The African American Obesity Initiative launched on April 7. The $1.2 million initiative will work to lessen obesity among African Americans. The department is partnering with three academic and civic organizations with close ties to the African American community. One of these organizations, the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education will work with five of its member institutions to promote healthy habits among college students. The second phase of this initiative will target Hispanics, another population disproportionately affected by obesity and its associated illnesses.

Office on Women’s Health

The 2005 Daybook Generations: Women’s Health Across the Lifespan is available for download via the web (there are no more print editions available). The Daybook offers how-to tips on living a healthier lifestyle at any age and information on common health concerns and ways to prevent or manage them.

Administration on Aging

Materials are available to support the Medicare Modernization Act and help consumers make use of the new benefits available under Medicare as of January, 2005. Included in the list of materials the AOA has available is a brochure from the American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, and the American Heart Association entitled Everyday Choices for a Healthier Life.

Also of interest…

The sixth edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans was issued in January, and the new USDA Food Guide Pyramid was launched in April. The biggest difference over Guidelines of past years is the emphasis on reducing calories consumed and increasing physical activity.