Surgeon General Issues Report on Obesity
with Action Plan that Includes P.E.!
The Surgeon General's Call To Action
To Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity
Thursday, December 13, 2001
http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/obesity/
The Surgeon General, David M. Satcher, MD issued a report December 13, 2001 that
highlighted the change in perceived value that school-based physical education programs
experienced in 2001.
The Report’s Vision for the Future includes the following:
ACTION:
 | The nation must take action to assist Americans in balancing healthful eating with
regular physical activity. Individuals and groups across all settings must work in
concert to:
| Ensure daily quality physical education programs in all school grades. Such
education can develop the knowledge, attitudes, skills, behaviors, and confidence
needed to be physically active for life. |
| Reduce time spent watching television and in other similar sedentary behaviors. |
| Build physical activity into regular routines and playtime for children and
their families. Ensure that adults get at least 30 minutes of moderate physical
activity on most days of the week. Children should aim for at least 60 minutes. |
|
By highlighting this issue as the number one action at the highest levels of our
federal health department, physical education becomes more than just, "gym class". As a
leading doctor in Wisconsin said recently, "physical education teachers spend far more
time with children than I do and have a greater opportunity to influence their physical
activity habits for a lifetime."
