I was deeply moved by comments in a report from former U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona in his testimony before Congress on childhood health and obesity. His most alarming statement was this: Because of the increasing rates of obesity, unhealthy eating habits, and physical inactivity, we may see the first generation that will be less healthy and have a shorter life expectancy than their parents.

In my travels, I see many bright, smiling faces, but all too often, I also see evidence of unhealthy lifestyles among our young people. As we look ahead to our 100^th Anniversary, we need to be mindful of the surgeon general's startling observations about the health and well-being of our younger generation. Among the findings in his report were the following:

• Over the past 20 years, the rates of overweight young people doubled in children and tripled in adolescents.
• Today nearly two out of every three American adults and 15 percent of American kids are overweight or obese. That's more than 9 million children-one in every seven kids-who are at increased risk of weight-related chronic diseases.
• Today pediatricians are diagnosing an increasing number of children with type 2 diabetes-which used to be known as adult-onset diabetes. Research indicates that one-third of all children born in 2000 will develop type 2 diabetes during their lifetime.
• Tragically, people with type 2 diabetes are at increased risk of developing heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and blindness. These complications are likely to appear much earlier in life for those who develop type 2 diabetes in childhood or adolescence.

Our role is clear; we must continue to aggressively build and promote programs that help build healthier lifestyles for our Scouts. Increased daily physical activity and healthier eating habits are key solutions here, according to the surgeon general's report.

As Scout Leaders, we must do all we can to mirror the surgeon general's initiatives and set the example for encouraging these healthy choices, not only for our Scouts, but for their parents and peers as well. Their future is Scouting's future. I encourage you to offer any ideas you have in this direction.