Surgeon Generals 2002 Report
The Surgeon General issues a community call to action as health problems resulting from overweight and obesity could
reverse many of the health gains in recent decades. In preparation of this report several strategies were reviewed for their
proven scientific effectiveness. Two important ones being to:
1) Change the perception of obesity so that health becomes the chief concern, not personal appearance.
2) Educate health care providers and health profession students on the prevention and treatment of overweight and
obesity across the lifespan.
"Overweight and obesity are among the most pressing new health challenges we face today," Health & Human Service
Secretary Tommy G. Thompson said. "Our modern environment has allowed these conditions to increase at alarming rates and become
a growing health problem for our nation. By confronting these conditions, we have tremendous opportunities to prevent the
unnecessary disease and disability they portend for our future."
Surgeon General David Satcher recently said "Overweight and obesity may soon cause as much preventable disease and death
as cigarette smoking," "People tend to think of overweight and obesity as strictly a personal matter, but there is much that
communities can and should do to address these problems." Administrators of Insurance Programs and employers need to take
a serious look at Preventative Health Care Programs and the importance they play in reducing healthcare and insurance
costs for everyone.
Obesity among adults has doubled since 1980, while overweight among adolescents has tripled. Only 3 percent
of all Americans meet at least four of the five federal Food Guide Pyramid recommendations. Forty percent of adults engage
in no leisure-time physical activity at all.
Weight loss, while the long term goal should not be the initial goal of a successful return to health / obesity reduction
program. The first results should be: increased energy, better thinking power, sleep better, an added spring to the step,
in general feeling better. Bodyfat reduction is the best true guideline, rather than weight loss. Many of our
current popular diet programs promote weight loss, but with bodyfat percentages increasing and health risks increasing with
these weight loss programs. We can see the results of the last few decades of dieting. Arthritis, diabetes, hypertension
are for the most created by a few years of poor eating. Modern medicine can keep us alive longer, it’s up to us to improve
the quality of those years.
