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U.S. Surgeon General Encourages Participation in TV Turnoff
Commercial Alert April 19, 1999
Following is a news release from the U.S. Surgeon General:
Office of the U.S. Surgeon General
Press Release
Contact: Damon Thompson: 202-205-1842
U.S. SURGEON GENERAL SATCHER AND AGRICULTURE UNDER SECRETARY WATKINS
ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION IN NATIONAL TV TURNOFF WEEK
MEDIA ADVISORY
EVENT SCHEDULED: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 11:40 A.M.
MANOR WOODS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
11575 FREDERICK ROAD
ELLICOTT CITY, MD 410/313-7165
WASHINGTON -- Two of the nation's leading public health officials, U.S.
Surgeon General David Satcher and Under Secretary of Agriculture for
Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services Shirley R. Watkins, today urged
parents to help their children reduce time spent watching television,
get more exercise and improve their diets as three simple and effective
first steps toward improving public health.
The officials announced their support of National TV Turnoff Week, April
22-28, an annual event sponsored by the nonpartisan, non-profit TV-Free
America. Since 1995, TV-Free America has assisted thousands of schools
to involve students and families in turning off their televisions and
pursuing alternative activities.
Satcher noted that obesity levels are at epidemic proportions for both
children and adults. "We have the most sedentary generation of young
people in American history," he said. "Reducing the amount of
television our children watch is one way to encourage more healthful
activity." Nearly one out of three middle-aged Americans is clinically
obese; one in ten is overweight; and the percentage of overweight
children has doubled since 1968.
"Turning off the TV on April 22 is an excellent opportunity for
Americans to kick the couch potato habit," said Under Secretary
Watkins. "Americans need to get up off the couch, shelve the remote,
increase their intake of fruits and vegetables, and get active. We need
to start living in a more healthful manner."
Satcher unveiled a special "Surgeon General's Prescription for Less TV"
which will be distributed by TV-Free America to schools participating in
the 1999 activities. The prescription is intended to be taped to
children's television screens during the week as a reminder of
alternative activities while the TV is turned off. Instead of TV, the
Surgeon General recommends children and their parents "Go bicycling,
play soccer, jump rope, fly a kite, dance, start a garden, wash the dog,
swim laps, clean your room, do gymnastics, throw a frisbee, walk around
the block, learn to rollerskate, build a fort."
"Lifestyles choices are where we can make some of the greatest gains,"
Watkins said. "Outlays for medical treatment are likely to double over
the next decade, yet as much as 70 percent of the nation's medical bill
stems from preventable illness."
Satcher pointed to the 1996 Surgeon General's report on physical
activity, which found that regular physical activity "reduces the risk
of developing a wide range of illnesses, including heart disease,
diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer. It also reduces feelings of
depression and anxiety, helps control weight, and helps maintain healthy
bones, muscles and joints."
Watkins said the Department of Agriculture has made it a top priority to
improve the diets of American children. The USDA's National School
Lunch and School Breakfast Programs provide meals to more than 26
million children every day. The Department has implemented a broad
initiative to bring school meals into line with the Dietary Guidelines
for Americans by reducing fat and increasing the variety of foods
served. Nutrition messages targeted to children and school food service
staffs have increased awareness of the importance of making healthy
dietary choices.
"In addition to improving our diets, we all need to increase our levels
of physical activity," Watkins said. "One of the easiest ways to do
that is to turn off the TV set. Find something else to do."
Watkins cited studies by Nielsen Media Research that show the average
American watches 3 hours and 43 minutes television each day - the
equivalent of 56 days of nonstop TV watching every year.
"We ought to cut our time in front of the TV by 50 percent or more,"
Watkins said. "National TV Turnoff Week is an excellent place to start.
It involves no new government bureaucracy, no new finance system, and we
can begin immediately."
National TV Turnoff Week is coordinated by TV-Free America, a nonprofit,
nonpartisan organization that encourages Americans to reduce
dramatically and voluntarily the amount of television they watch, in
order to promote richer, healthier and more connected lives, families
and communities. For more information, call TVFA @ 202/887-0436.
-- END --
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