News Release

Hartford Healthy Youth for a Healthy Future Visit

Acting Surgeon General Promotes “Healthy Youth for a Healthy Future” in Hartford

Acting Surgeon General Steven K. Galson, M.D., M.P.H., will make another stop on his nationwide tour to promote the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Childhood Overweight and Obesity Prevention Initiative on Dec. 10 in Hartford, Conn. The initiative targets prevention of overweight and obesity, and the promotion of healthy lifestyles, for young people.

The Healthy Youth for a Healthy Future project 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 Hartford, and meet first-hand with those actively engaged in finding ways to prevent childhood overweight and obesity," said Galson, a rear admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service.

Rear Adm. Galson will present the Healthy Youth for a Healthy Future Champion Award to the Healthy Hartford program, a wellness campaign to help Hartford families, both adults and children, make healthy choices in their every day lives.  Led by Hartford Mayor Eddie A. Perez, Healthy Hartford and its partners are working to reverse the epidemic of childhood obesity through hosting city-wide health fairs, promoting physical activity through its “A Walk in the Park” program, and collaborating with area health care providers on increasing awareness to the negative health outcomes for overweight children and promoting prevention.

Rear Adm. Galson will participate in a roundtable discussion on childhood overweight and obesity prevention with representatives from business, industry, academia and other local leaders hosted by the University of Connecticut and the City of Hartford.  Rear Adm. Galson will also visit the Asylum Hill Boys and Girls Club and the Green Apple Market to highlight their efforts in helping kids develop healthy habits.

Childhood overweight is a serious health concern for children and adolescents in the United States. Since 1980, obesity has more than doubled among children ages two to five and more than tripled among youth ages six to 11 and adolescents ages 12-19. Additional information on the Surgeon General's Initiative can be found at http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/obesityprevention.html.