WASHINGTON, DC; December 6, 2006 — Two former U.S. Surgeon Generals are joining forces to address one of the most pressing health threats facing the American public — the escalating epidemic of obesity, which now affects more than 130 million adults (65 percent of adults aged 20 and over).
Adding his stature to the anti-obesity crusade founded by former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, Richard H. Carmona, M.D., the 17th Surgeon General and now vice chairman of the Tucson-based Canyon Ranch, has been appointed as the new Chairman of Shape Up America!, the national campaign whose sole focus is raising awareness about obesity as a public health issue. In this capacity, Dr. Carmona will continue the mission of this privately funded effort to place healthy weight, an improved diet and increased physical activity high on the national agenda.
Dr. Koop will remain on the Shape Up America! board as Chairman Emeritus and will continue to speak out about the need to reduce the health risks associated with unhealthy weight.
"As U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Carmona echoed my concerns that combating obesity is essential to reducing the risks that threaten the lives and future health of many Americans," said Dr. Koop. "I welcome Dr. Carmona as a new voice for Shape Up America! and as an advocate for elevating weight control and physical activity as a disease prevention strategy."
Launched in 1994, Shape Up America! was the first national campaign to declare obesity as a public health crisis and to define unhealthy weight as the second leading cause of preventable death after smoking in the U.S. In 1996, Shape Up America! also called for adoption of the Body Mass Index as the standard for measuring weight and issued the first comprehensive, evidence-based medical guidance for the treatment of obesity, which identified seven medical conditions — hypertension, cardiovascular disease, dyslipidemia, type II diabetes, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, and infertility — where early physician intervention for excess weight significantly improves treatment outcomes.
With the ultimate goal of stimulating behavior change, Shape Up America! is focusing on redefining weight management by focusing on motivating wiser food choices, portion control and encouraging increased physical activity for all Americans. Shape Up America! encourages small lifestyle changes that provide immediate health dividends, such as improved insulin resistance and lower blood cholesterol levels. Additional benefits of healthy weight management include increased independence, productivity, and reduced demands for health care services.
"Shape Up America! is a potent force for preventing the unnecessary disease, disability and death caused by obesity and I want to do what I can to support its mission," said Dr. Carmona. "Combating obesity requires talking candidly to the public about overweight and obesity, so overweight Americans can be involved in improving their overall health and well-being. We must change from being disease-oriented to being health-oriented, and that starts with promoting a healthy weight and increased physical activity."
After completing a four-year term as Surgeon General in July 2006, Dr. Carmona joined Canyon Ranch in October and now serves as vice chairman and chief executive officer of the health division and president of the nonprofit Canyon Ranch Institute. He is also the first Distinguished Professor of Public Health at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health at the University of Arizona, where he has been a professor for over 20 years.
Along with Drs. Koop and Carmona, the Board of Directors of Shape Up America! includes: Tom MacMurray, PhD. Richard Samber, C.P.A., M.R.C. Greenwood, PhD and Barbara J. Moore, PhD. Dr. Moore has served as president of the organization since 1995.
About Shape Up America!
Shape Up America! was founded in 1994 by former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop to raise awareness of obesity as a health issue and to provide responsible information on weight management to the public, to health care professionals and to educators. A network of respected professionals in the fields of medicine, public health, nutrition and physical activity provide support and guidance for the campaign and its initiatives. The award-winning Shape Up America! Web site — www.shapeup.org — offers weight management information for adults in an entertaining and engaging manner.
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