"It takes a team to get the word out into all of the community so
we can get children moving and keep them moving," he said. "We
really need to get everybody to get on board and help us make this a
healthier United States."
Carmona was speaking at the start of an anti-obesity initiative
sponsored by the University of North Carolina and Gatorade.
"I cannot think of a more important message for athletes to send
kids today than to talk about the importance of getting up, getting
out and being active," said soccer star Mia Hamm, a UNC graduate.
Nearly 9 million American children, about 15 percent of those age
6 to 19, are seriously overweight, program organizers said.
In 2000, health care costs related to obesity were about $117
billion, Carmona said.
The initiative, called "Get Kids in Action," will include
research, education and outreach. UNC's School of Public Health will
study pilot projects in four still-to-be-selected North Carolina
communities. The school's athletics department will help with
outreach. Gatorade is paying the bills, $4 million over four years.
Carmona gave about 50 children from Washington area YMCAs the
title "junior assistant surgeons general" and told them to tell
their families, friends, teachers and others to stay physically
active and to eat right.
President Bush (news
- web
sites) visited a YMCA in Dallas last Friday, promoting both
health and economic benefits of exercise and nutritious food.
The Bush administration is also urging health insurance companies
to join in combatting the problem. Health and Human Services (news
- web
sites) Secretary Tommy Thompson, who met Monday with insurance
executives, said they could help address obesity by offering premium
discounts to people with healthier lifestyles.
"Health is a great motivator," Thompson said. "But more
importantly, so is money."
Overall, about 65 percent of Americans are obese or overweight,
he said.
Many companies have refrained from offering different rates,
either because some states' laws bar such discriminatory policies or
they fear lawsuits. In response, Thompson has asked for a government
study into how companies could offer rates based on health habits
without violating laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act.
___
On the Net:
Surgeon General's Office: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/ap/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/storytext/SIG=cjfhl8/*http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/sgoffice.htm
Get Kids in Action: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/ap/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/storytext/SIG=0n3emr/*http://www.getkidsinaction.com/index.html
YMCA: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/ap/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/storytext/SIG=n8edh1/*http://www.ymca.com
Department of Health and Human Services (news
- web
sites): http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/ap/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/storytext/SIG=kgp5sl/*http://www.hhs.gov
