 Delegates applaud (then) President- elect Michael Fleming, M.D., when Fleming announces his personal commitment to modeling healthy behaviors as part of the Academy's new Americans in Motion initiative. |
BY TONI LAPP
It's going to take a new AAFP -- an AAFP with an attitude -- to meet the challenges of modern health care, (then) AAFP President-elect Michael Fleming, M.D., of Shreveport, La., told the Congress of Delegates Sept. 30.
The Academy has many items on its agenda as it moves forward, he said, ticking off such issues as the Medicare fee update, the Future of Family Medicine project and the health of state chapters.
Add to this list the Academy's interest in improving public health.
Fleming told the Congress about a fledgling program -- a program with an attitude -- that AAFP hopes will address a major public health issue: the epidemic of obesity.
That program is Americans in Motion, a new 10-year initiative of the AAFP Commission on Public Health.
"AIM will give family physicians tools to help their patients, their families and their communities fight obesity," he said.
Join fight against obesity
A unique component of AIM is that it will first challenge family physicians themselves to lead healthier lives. Fleming announced his own goal to "walk the talk" when it comes to health and fitness.
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"I am making a personal commitment to accept that (AIM) challenge," he said. "I have committed our Academy to act -- to join in the fight against the epidemic of obesity. I urge each of you to join me. Be a role model for your patients, your family and your community by living a healthier life."
With Fleming's acceptance of the challenge, the first phase of the program was set into action: that FPs themselves will model healthy behaviors.
Fleming said he wasn't taking the challenge lightly: "Because of my commitment to AIM, there will be less of me to speak to you" at the 2004 Assembly.
Get involved now
Want to take the AIM challenge yourself? Go to http://www.aafp.org/flemingchallenge.xml. Once there, you can enroll in the Active Lifestyle Program, part of the U.S. President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, and take the President's Council challenge as Fleming has. You can also read or download AAFP's obesity monograph (see story, "New monograph helps you help overweight patients"), tell about your own efforts to stay healthy and take the "Fleming Challenge."
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