A Walk with the U.S. Surgeon General

U.S. Surgeon General, Regina Benjamin, M.D., M.B.A., in Downtown Baltimore's Inner Harbor District during the Exercise is Medicine Walk.

Last week, I had the honor of being one of the members of the American College of Sports Medicine who walked in the Exercise is Medicine Walk led by U.S. Surgeon General, Regina Benjamin, M.D., M.B.A., through the streets of downtown Baltimore, Maryland during ACSM's 57th Annual Meeting.  Prior to the walk, the U.S. Surgeon General gave a speech during which she emphasized these points:

• "Just get up and have fun."
• If we want people to be healthy, then we need to give them a healthy and safe place to do it.
• One person can make a difference - be that person.
• Too often we teach about the negative aspects of being overweight and sedentary and not enough time talking in a positive way about optimal well-being (e.g., the joy that can be brought from having good health).
• It used to be that kids were active all the time without realizing it by engaging in activities such as "double-dutch," disco dancing, and roller skating.  Kids didn't have to be "prescribed" exercise, they just did it as a matter of play.

Dr. Benjamin concluded her speech by saying that individuals will change their behavior if they have a meaningful reward - one that involves each person feeling and enjoying optimal health and embracing life to the fullest.

Dr. Benjamin discusses the important role of Exercise is Medicine.

The U.S. Surgeon General's Prescription for America is:

• Be active as much as possible
• Consume fruits and vegetables on a daily basis
• Engage the whole family
• Be creative and have fun

The U.S. Surgeon General's prescription for America.