The Birmingham News
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Dave Parks
Despite seven years of work, childhood obesity is hitting a record high, but there are signs that Alabama is working to reverse the trend, the acting U.S. surgeon general said Monday during a trip to Birmingham.
"You are making a difference," Dr. Steven K. Galson told members of the Jefferson County Childhood Obesity Task Force. "You have to get involved at every level of society."
Galson noted that the number of overweight and obese children has tripled since 1980. The surgeon general's office made a call to action seven years ago, but rates are still rising.
Galson came to Alabama to commend public health workers and advocates for a multitude of grass-roots programs aimed at childhood obesity, many under the Jefferson County Health Department's Our Community Roadmap to Health program. About 40 members of organizations working to improve diet and increase exercise participated in a roundtable discussion with Galson during the afternoon.
Monday morning, Galson presented the Jefferson County Childhood Obesity Task Force with a Community Champion Award and praised the partnerships that group had formed.