Key Health Official Strong on Physical Activity
Dr. Howard Koh Stresses Prevention in First Official Address

Physical activity is running strong as a priority for the new Assistant Secretary for Health. Dr. Howard Koh declared prevention and wellness a key part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in his remarks to about 250 experts gathered in Washington, D.C., July 1 for the National Physical Activity Plan Conference. Koh’s speech is said to be his first official address since he was unanimously appointed by the U.S. Senate June 19.

“In many ways, physical activity is a prime example of prevention at its very best,” said Koh, a physician who formerly directed the Division of Public Health Practice at Harvard and served as Commissioner of Public Health for Massachusetts. Long a campaigner for the power of prevention, Koh told the group that Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius “cares deeply about prevention.” Having underscored the importance of America’s first-ever national Physical Activity Guidelines, issued October 2008, he said “Now we have the shared responsibility to make them a reality.”

Koh was introduced by Dr. David Satcher, a former U.S. Surgeon General (1998-2002) who shares his deep commitment to physical activity. “Physical activity,” said Dr. Satcher, “is not just about saving lives—it’s about quality of life.” Noting the cost savings associated with healthy lifestyles, he recommended workplace wellness programs, saying “The data show that for every dollar invested, we save almost four dollars.”

Satcher called for a multi-faceted approach to reducing sedentary behavior: “At the same time we’re educating people, we’ve got to provide incentives and remove barriers to physical activity.” He called for vigorous advocacy, citing the need to “influence policies at all levels.”

The National Physical Activity Plan Conference, held July 1-2, furthered work toward a comprehensive plan to be launched during the first quarter of 2010. The planning process and conference are directed by Russell Pate, Ph.D., FACSM.