Surgeon General Focuses on Flu, Tobacco, Obesity

The nation's top doc has a lot on her mind this time of year.
U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin talks about an upcoming tobacco study, childhood obesity and National Influenza Vaccination Week that is now underway.

More than a year after becoming the 18th Surgeon General, Vice Admiral Dr. Regina Benjamin is again tackling flu shots and this year there are new guidelines.

"The biggest thing this year; we are asking everyone over the age of 6 months to get their flu shot," Benjamin says. "If we can get the entire population vaccinated we can avoid any outbreak or epidemic like last year."

Unlike last year though Dr. Benjamin says there are no shortages of the vaccine this flu season.
"This particular vaccine this year already has the H1N1 in it. It also has influenza A and influenza B as well so it is all covered in this shot at one time."

Another issue close the Surgeon General's heart: reduce childhood obesity.
"My goal is to have people be healthy and be fit because they enjoy it they have a good time not because it is something negative to do," Benjamin says.

33 states have childhood obesity rates above 25-percent.
One of Benjamin's favorite phrases is "exercise is medicine". She hosts fitness walks in cities across the nation.

She is also releasing the first Surgeon General's tobacco report this Thursday.
"This report kind of goes into the science of how it really affects your DNA and how certain things at cellular level affect you with one cigarette."