Mass. Medical Society Focuses on Healthy Weight

WALTHAM — The Mass. Medical Society (MMS), the statewide professional association of physicians, has announced the start of the third phase of its Your Health First campaign, a multimedia public health educational campaign to raise awareness of how individuals can improve their health and prevent injury and illness.

The third year of the campaign focuses on healthy weight, a major public health strategic priority of the society. Public service messages encouraging people of all ages to exercise daily will appear on cable television networks, radio stations, and public transit across the state over the next six weeks.

“Obesity is a major public health problem and can lead to a host of other medical conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease,” said Dr. Kenneth R. Peelle, president of the MMS. “This phase of our Your Health First campaign suggests simple things people can do in their daily activities to increase their amount of exercise, one of the most important prescriptions for a healthy life. Walking daily, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, riding a bike — all of these are simple steps that can have a tremendous impact on maintaining a healthy weight and thus improving overall health.”

The Your Health First campaign began in December 2005, with a focus on flu prevention and handwashing. Phase two of the campaign in July 2006 addressed the prevention of youth violence, with the message to parents to get children involved in community activities. The message on flu prevention will be repeated later this year.