Former U.S. Surgeon General calls for intensive effort to promote child health

David Satcher, MD, PhD, former U.S. Surgeon General, describes childhood obesity as "one of the greatest threats to child and adult health that we are facing today," calling for an intensive effort to promote child health, in an editorial in the June issue of Childhood Obesity, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. The editorial is available online.

A long-time advocate in the fight against obesity, Dr. Satcher released the first Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity during his tenure in 2001. Ten years later, Dr. Satcher still sees obesity as a growing epidemic and proposes, in his editorial, five target areas in which investment would have a significant and long-term impact on improving the health and well-being of children and adults. He also identifies the key factors that contribute to childhood obesity as well as those that impede efforts to reverse this dangerous and increasing trend in the U.S.

"Dr. Satcher brings illustrious achievement, lifelong dedication, abundant passion, and the view from altitude to this issue," says David L. Katz, MD, MPH, Editor-in-Chief of Childhood Obesity, and Director of Yale University's Prevention Research Center. "When he speaks, all concerned with the well-being of children should listen. We are honored and privileged that on this occasion, he is speaking from the pulpit of our journal."