Acting Surgeon General Promotes "Healthy Youth for a Healthy Future" in Jackson

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday September 24, 2008

Contact: Julie Moreno
(202) 205-0143

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 Sept. 24 in Jackson, Miss. 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 Jackson, 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.

In Jackson, Rear Adm. Galson will present the Healthy Youth for a Healthy Future Champion Award to the Pecan Park Elementary in recognition of its success in promoting physical activity through Family Wellness Nights, walking programs and project KaBOOM! which provides safe, challenging play spaces for students. The KaBOOM! playground was built in one day with over 200 volunteers from the community.

Rear Adm. Galson will also meet with key community stakeholders including representatives from business, industry, academia and other local leaders to discuss childhood obesity prevention and learn about existing prevention programs.

The 2007 Mississippi Youth Risk Behavior Survey showed 18 percent of students in public schools were overweight. The percent of U.S. students overweight in 2007 was 13 percent.

Additional information on the Acting Surgeon General's Initiative can be found at www.surgeongeneral.gov/obesityprevention.html

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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.