December 6 — 7, 2007 Advisory Committee Meeting
Minutes
Welcome Remarks from Anand Parekh, MD, MPH,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Health
CAPT Troiano introduced Anand Parekh, M.D., M.P.H., Acting Assistant
Secretary for Health. Dr. Parekh thanked the Committee and all the consultants
for their work over the past five months. Additionally, Dr. Parekh acknowledged
the efforts of the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, RADM Penelope Slade Royall, Deputy
Assistant Secretary for Health, CDC, ASPE and the President's Council on
Physical Fitness and Sports.
Dr. Parekh stressed three key points regarding Physical Activity
Guidelines:
-
HHS currently has many major prevention oriented initiatives
in the works and the Physical Activity Guidelines development process will
have influence on these initiatives. The process is being followed by the
highest levels of the federal government.
-
When examining the science and evidence surrounding physical
activity, one can see physical activity is uniquely positioned as a health
intervention to improve one's health status. In terms of access there are many
different activities one can engage in at relatively low financial cost.
-
The process needs to be evidence-based and driven by the
science.
Dr. Parekh also applauded the Committee for taking a
comprehensive approach by including populations such as youth, older adults, and
people with disabilities. This is important given the changing demographics
within the country.
|