HEALTHY PEOPLE
The Surgeon General’s Report On
Health Promotion And Disease Prevention
HEALTHY PEOPLE
The Surgeon General’s Report On
Health Promotion And Disease Prevention
1979
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE
Public Health Service
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health and Surgeon General
DHEW (PHS) Publication No. 79-55071
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents. U.S. Government Printing Office
Washington, D.C. 20.102
Stock Xumber 017-001-00416-2
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. EDUCATION. AND WELFARE
W*SHINCTON. D c. -1
SURGEON GENERAL
OF THE
PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
The Honorable Joseph A. Califano, Jr.
Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare
Dear Mr. Secretary:
I am pleased to transmit herewith the manuscript of the
Surgeon General's Report on Health Promotion and Disease
Prevention.
I believe this will be an important document for the
American people.
Many people and institutions, too numerous to acknowledge,
have provided valuable assistance in preparing this report.
I would particularly like to express appreciation to
Dr. J. Michael McGinnis, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary
for Health (Disease Prevention and Health Promotion) and
his staff, and to Dr. David Hamburg, President of the
Institute of Medicine, of the National Academy of Sciences,
for his leadership in mobilizing the resources of the
Institute to provide the accompanying papers which present
documentation for the report.
Sincerely yours,
ssistant Secreta for Health and
Surgeon General
July 1979
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECRETARY'S FOREWORD
SECTION I - TOWARD A HEALTHIER AMERICA . . . . . I- 1
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY. . . . l- 1
CHAPTER 2: RISKS TO GOOD HEALTH. . . . . . 2- 1
Major Risk Categories . . . . . 2- 2
Risk Variability. . . . . . . . 2- 3
Age-Related Risks . . . . . . . 2- 5
Assessing Risk. . . . . . . . . 2- 6
The Role of the Individual. . . 2- 7
SECTION II - HEALTH GOALS. . . . . . . . . . . .II- 1
CHAPTER 3:
CHAPTER 4:
CHAPTER 5:
CHAPTER 6:
HEALTHY INFANTS . . . . . . . .
Subgoal: Reducing the Number
of Low Birth Weight Infants .
Subgoal: Reducing the Number
of Birth Defects. . . . . . .
HEALTHY CHILDREN. . . . . . . .
Subgoal: Enhancing Childhood
Growth and Development. . . .
Subgoal: Reducing Childhood
Accidents and Injuries. . . .
HEALTHY ADOLESCENTS AND
YOUNG ADULTS. . . . . . . . .
Subgoal: Reducing Fatal Motor
Vehicle Accidents . . . . . .
Subgoal: Reducing Alcohol and
Drug Misuse . . . . . . . . .
HEALTH ADULTS . . . . . . . . .
Subgoal: Reducing Heart
Attacks and Strokes . . . . .
Subgoal: Reducing Death
from Cancer . . . . . . . . .
3- 1
3- 5
3- 8
4- 1
4- 6
4-10
5- 1
5- 6
5- 7
6- 1
6- 6
6-12
CHAPTER 7: HEALTHY OLDER ADULTS. . . . . . 7-
Subgoal: Increasing the Number
of Older Adults Who Can
Function Independently. . . . 7-
Subgoal: Reducing Premature
Death from Influenza and
Pneumonia . . . . . . . . . . 7-12
SECTION III - ACTIONS FOR HEALTH . . . . . . . .III-
CHAPTER 8:
CHAPTER 9:
CHAPTER 10:
PREVENTIVE HEALTH SERVICES. .. 8-
Family Planning ........ 8-
Pregnancy and Infant Care ... 8- 6
Immunizations ......... 8-16
Sexually Transmissible Diseases
Services. .......... 8-20
High Blood Pressure Control . . 8-23
HEALTH PROTECTION ....... 9-
Toxic Agent Control ...... 9- 2
Occupational Safety and
Health. ........... 9-11
Accidental Injury Control ... 9-17
Fluoridation of Comnunity
Water Supplies. ....... 9-26
Infectious Agent Control. ... 9-28
HEALTH PROMOTION. ....... lo- 1
Smoking Cessation ....... lo- 5
Reducing Misuse of Alcohol
and Drugs .......... lo-11
Improved Nutrition. ...... lo-17
Exercise and Fitness. ..... lo-24
Stress Control. ........ lo-28
SECTION IV - CHALLENGE TO THE NATION . . . . . . IV- 1
CHAPTER 11: CHALLENGE TO THE NATION . . . . ll- 1
The Obstacles . . . . . . . . . ll- 1
Opportunities for Action. . . . ll- 3
APPENDIX I - MEASURES FOR BETTER HEALTH -
A SUMMARY. . . . . . . . . . . . . AI- 1
APPENDIX II - SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION. . . . . . . . . . . . AII- 1
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AIII- 1
