About twenty years ago, the Surgeon General's report on smoking set the stage for a national stop smoking campaign that ultimately resulted in a smoke-free environment in most public places nationwide. I already had a "no smoking" sign outside my door. It irritated my chain smoking mother-in-law and generated memorable pictures of my mother outside with a cigarette in one hand and a salt shaker in the other as she attempted to rid my yard of the famous oversized Oregon slugs.

Although lung cancer continues to be a leading cause of death in the U. S. the latest report by the Surgeon General focuses on the shocking lack of fitness by a majority of Americans. Next month, when Surgeon General Satcher retires, Ken Cooper, M. D., the man most people in the business of health promotion call "the father of aerobic fitness" will be named to take his place. Cooper, who continues to be actively involved in the fitness movement through his Institute of Aerobic Research and his role as a best selling author and public speaker, will lead a charge fitness professionals have been waiting for. The fitness message will prevail-especially for those with no fitness experience and a couch potato lifestyle. There will be public service announcements to "get moving" by high profile individuals. Weight loss and activity contests and challenges will be launched in health clubs and corporations nationwide. You'll hear more about the benefits of walking and climbing instead of riding. You'll learn how a little bit of movement can go a long way to improve health and prevent or temper the diseases of aging. If you carry extra weight you'll be told that a fit body under extra fat can prolong your life.

My mother-in-law and mother ultimately stopped smoking. Sadly, neither will be able to participate in this new movement which is in keeping with my current door sign: "Stop Sitting." My mother-in-law died several years ago from the complications of pulmonary disease and my mother is bedridden with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and osteoporosis. In short, the stop smoking message came too late for these people important to me. Happily I am mostly surrounded by people who already hike, bike, walk, run, swim, row and dance, I'm hoping it's not too late for others, who don't, to jump on Dr. Cooper's (and my) bandwagon so we can move, disease-free, into our elder years.