U.S. Surgeon General Joins Nike, McNeil Nutritionals and American Academy of Pediatrics to Address National Trend of Childhood Inactivity and Unhealthy Diets

New Orleans, LA, November 3, 2003 – U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona joined Nike, McNeil Nutritionals and the American Academy of Pediatrics today to highlight Shaping America’s Youth, a national cross-sector initiative to promote childhood and adolescent physical activity and healthy lifestyles.

“We have an epidemic of obesity in the United States and it’s only getting worse. We are seeing Generation Y grow into Generation XL, and this weight gain has long-term health consequences. We need to work together across all sectors of American life to address this public health crisis,” said Surgeon General Carmona.

The first phase of Shaping America’s Youth will obtain data from over 1,000 participants through a cross-sector survey that will identify current programs and efforts to understand and address the problem of sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy diets in America’s children. The survey will be directed by Academic Network, an Oregon-based health communications firm. An advisory committee, which will include national experts in childhood and adolescent health, education, nutrition, physical activity, urban design, recreation and other fields, will review the survey results so that they represent a complete and accurate picture of programs and efforts currently in place.

“The goal of Shaping America’s Youth is to provide a comprehensive map of where our nation’s efforts currently exist, so that we might chart an optimal course for our children’s future health,” said Dr. David McCarron, President of Academic Network.

“The AAP is pleased to be involved in a partnership with the Office of the Surgeon General, Academic Network, Nike and McNeil Nutritionals,” said AAP President E. Stephen Edwards, MD, FAAP. “This initiative will help promote research, encourage various entities to collaborate, and assist pediatricians in addressing childhood obesity prevention and treatment in their offices and communities. No other clearinghouse of such information exists.”

The information collected will be distilled in a published summary and preserved in a national database. It will serve as a stimulus for concerned entities – health professionals, government agencies, educators, corporations, foundations and the general public – to discuss how to coordinate and implement a national plan of action.

“Increasing physical activity will be critical to reversing this national trend. Nike is committed to offering kids in the U.S. the motivation and tools to become more physically active, stay healthy and have fun,” said Molly White, Nike’s Director of U.S. Community Affairs. “Many different strategies will be needed to address this problem effectively; hence, we need partnerships that cross all sectors. Shaping America’s Youth will be the vehicle through which concerned parties can come together to share information, ideas and programs that will result in healthier, active children.”

“There is a serious problem with rising rates of overweight children and adolescents that urgently needs to be addressed,” said Mark Dreher, Vice President, R&D and Technical Services, McNeil Nutritionals. “McNeil Nutritionals is proud to support Shaping America’s Youth. We are committed to focusing attention on this national epidemic and bringing to light the most effective ways to promote healthy eating and calorie control for all of our children. We encourage other like-minded companies and organizations to join us in this worthy effort.”

Editor’s Note

Shaping America’s Youth is a national cross-sector initiative focused on promoting childhood and adolescent physical activity and healthy lifestyles. With the support of Nike and McNeil Nutritionals, and the involvement of the Office of the United States Surgeon General and the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Diabetes Association, American Obesity Association and Kaiser Permanente, Shaping America’s Youth is creating a comprehensive registry of funding sources, ongoing research, and intervention programs to increase physical activity and healthy eating among children and adolescents.

The 2003 release closed with the line: for more information about the initiative contact 1-800-SAY-9221 or visit www.shapingamericasyouth.com, and directed readers to a registration page for the survey. Both are recorded as historical text only.