The Surgeon General's Call To Action To Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity
Posing Questions and Developing Strategies
Current knowledge is clear on many issues: the prevalence of overweight and obesity is
high, and that of obesity is increasing rapidly; adolescents who are overweight are at high
risk of becoming overweight or obese adults; overweight and obesity increase the risk for
serious diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and high blood cholesterol; and
overweight and obesity are associated with premature death and disability. It is also
known that a healthy diet and adequate physical activity aid in maintaining a healthy
weight and, among overweight or obese persons, can promote weight loss.
Knowledge is less clear, however, on some very important questions. How can
overweight and obesity be prevented? What are the most effective prevention and
treatment strategies? How can the environment be modified to promote healthier eating
and increased physical activity? Determining the answers to these questions demands a
national public health response. Assembling the components of this response has begun.
|
Last revised: January 11, 2007
|