Prevention Matters

The two most recent Surgeons General say obesity in the U.S. has reached "the tipping point" and urged policymakers to take action. Drs. Richard H. Camona and David Satcher helped to release new policy recomendations from the Strategies to Overcome and Prevent (STOP) Obesity Alliance to address obesity and the chronic diseases associated with it.

"We’ve reached the tipping point on obesity in the United States,” said Carmona, who is now STOP's Health and Wellness Chairperson and President of Canyon Ranch Institute. “Obesity now impacts every aspect of our lives, including the future of our health care system. Health reform that directly addresses obesity will save lives, save money, and improve the health and well-being of every American.”

“When I served as Surgeon General, obesity was a problem of epidemic proportions,” said Satcher, who released the 2001 Surgeon General’s Call to Action To Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity. “Today, we are in a state of emergency when it comes to obesity. The issues underpinning obesity are too complex and widespread for any one institution to effectively address it alone. Until we collaborate to address obesity through meaningful, population-based policies and programs, our nation will continue to be crippled by obesity and the chronic diseases it causes.”