News Release

Acting Surgeon General Visits New England to Promote "Healthy Youth for a Healthy Future"

Acting Surgeon General Steven K. Galson, M.D., M.P.H., will visit Boston and Lawrence, Mass., Manchester, N.H., and Portland, Maine, June 30-July 2 as part of his nationwide tour to promote the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Healthy Youth for a Healthy Future initiative.

The initiative targets prevention of childhood overweight and obesity and the promotion of healthy lifestyles for young people. Healthy Youth for a Healthy Future showcases communities that address childhood overweight and obesity by helping kids stay active, encouraging healthy eating habits, and promoting healthy choices.

"I am honored to have the opportunity to visit these New England communities, and meet firsthand with people who are actively finding ways at the community level to prevent childhood overweight and obesity," said Dr. Galson, a rear admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service.

The acting surgeon general will also present four Healthy Youth for a Healthy Future Champion Awards during his visit. The award recognizes commitment to building partnerships and implementing programs to help kids stay active, encourage kids’ healthy eating habits, and promote healthy choices. The awards will go to:

• Go Kids Boston -- A program focused on research, education, and community service with specific emphasis on diverse, low income populations.
• The Greater Lawrence Family Health Center and New Balance Foundation – for its partnership to seek creative methods to combat pediatric obesity.
• The Early Sprouts Program -- a research-based nutrition and gardening curriculum for preschool-aged children. Dr. Galson will visit a Head Start site in Manchester, N.H., where they are implementing the curriculum.
• The Maine Healthy Weight Awareness Campaign -- a social marketing campaign to provide Maine parents with information and simple steps to keep their children and families healthy and active.

While in New England, Dr. Galson will meet with key community stakeholders including representatives from business, industry, academia, and other state and local leaders to discuss childhood obesity prevention and learn about existing prevention programs.

For additional information on the Surgeon General's Initiative, contact Jennifer Koentop in the Office of Public Health and Science Press Office at (202) 205-0143, or visit the Web site at: http://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.

Last revised: June 30, 2008