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[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 217 (Wednesday, November 8, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67011-67012]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-28642]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of Public Health and Science

National Action Plan on Oversight and Obesity: Notice of 
Opportunity for Public Comment; Notice of Public Meeting

AGENCY: OS/Office of Public Health and Science, DHHS.

[[Page 67012]]

ACTION: Opportunity to provide comments; Notice of Public Meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) (a) solicits 
written comments on the key elements of a national action plan on 
overweight and obesity, and (b) provides notice of a public meeting.

DATES: (1) Written comments may be submitted on or before 5 p.m. E.S.T. 
on December 29, 2000. (2) A public meeting will be held on December 7, 
2000 from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on December 8, 2000 from 8:30 a.m. to 
5:30 p.m.

ADDRESSES: (1) Written comments should be sent to Paul Ambrose, M.D., 
M.P.H., HHS Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office 
of Public Health and Science, Room 738-G, 200 Independence Ave., SW., 
Washington, DC 20201, (202) 205-4872 (telephone), 202-205-9478 
(facsimile). Comments also may be submitted electronically at 
www.sgobesity.niddk.nih.gov. (2) A public meeting will be held at the 
Lister Hill Auditorium, Building 38A, NIH Campus, Bethesda, Maryland. 
The meeting is open to the public; seating is limited.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Ambrose, M.D., M.P.H., or Kathryn 
McMurry, M.S., HHS Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 
Office of Public Health and Science, Room 738-G, 200 Independence Ave., 
SW., Washington, DC 20201, (202) 205-4872. To register for the meeting, 
contact Ms. Susie Warner at (301) 897-2789 (telephone), (301) 897-9587 
(facsimile), or on-line at www.sbogesity.niddk.nih.gov. Additional 
information can be obtained at this website or at 
www.surgeongeneral.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Overweight and obesity is a significant public health problem 
because it increases risk for many chronic diseases and premature 
death. More than half of adults and 11 percent of children and 
adolescents in the United States are estimated to be overweight or 
obese. The prevalence has almost doubled among children and adolescents 
since 1980 and is increasing in both genders and among all population 
groups of adults. Total costs (medical costs and lost productivity) 
attributed to obesity amounted to an estimated $99 billion in 1995. 
Health People 2010, the nation's public health agenda, has identified 
overweight and obesity as one of ten Leading Health Indicators.
    While the magnitude of the problem is great, the range of potential 
solutions is even greater. The design of successful prevention 
strategies will require the careful attention of many individuals and 
organizations working together. Prevention of overweight and obesity 
requires a broad array of strategies to promote healthy eating and 
increased physical activity. A number of activities are underway in 
public and private sectors related to the public health issue of 
obesity.

Written Comments

    In preparation for the development of a national action plan to 
address overweight and obesity in the United States, comments are 
welcome from all interested stakeholders. Further opportunity for 
public input in development of the plan is envisioned during 2001.
    Comments will be most useful if they include the following 
information:
    (1) What you consider to be the three to five most important 
priorities for addressing overweight and obesity in the United States.
    (2) How, as a nation, we should pursue these strategies.
    (3) Your views on the most effective ways to address disparities 
among different segments of the population.
    (4) (If applicable) A short summary of activities that your 
organization is engaged in or plans to engage in to address overweight 
and obesity. This information may become part of a publicly accessible 
website information center.
    Comments received by November 26 will be summarized and made 
available at the listening session described below. Comments will be 
accepted through 5 p.m., E.S.T. on December 29, 2000.

Announcement of Meeting

    To launch a process of developing a national action plan on 
overweight and obesity, Assistant Secretary for Health and Surgeon 
General David Satcher plans a listening session entitled Toward a 
National Action Plan on Overweight and Obesity: The Surgeon General's 
Initiative on December 7-8, 2000. The event will include invited panels 
of non-federal and nongovernmental organizations to discuss views on 
what the key elements of a national action plan on overweight and 
obesity should be, as well as time for discussion.

Meeting Location and Registration

    The meeting will be held on December 7, 2000 from 1 p.m. to 5:30 
p.m. and on December 8, 2000 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Lister 
Hill Auditorium in Bethesda, Maryland. The Lister Hill auditorium is 
located at Lister Hill Auditorium, Building 38A, NIH Campus, Bethesda, 
MD. The building is located near the Medical Center metro stop (red 
line train). Because seating is limited, registration is required and 
may be limited to one representative per organization. To register, 
please contact Ms. Susie Warner at (301) 897-2789 (telephone), (301) 
897-9587 (facsimile), or on-line at www.sgobesity.niddk.nih.gov. If you 
require a sign language interpreter, please contact Ms. Warner by 5 
p.m. E.S.T. on November 30, 2000. The meeting will be webcast live at 
videocast.nih.gov.

    Dated: November 1, 2000.
David Satcher,
Assistant Secretary for Health and Surgeon General.
[FR Doc. 00-28642 Filed 11-7-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-17-M
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