Actions, such as the designation of National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, spring from First Lady Michelle Obama's leadership of efforts to end childhood obesity within this generation.

If the childhood obesity epidemic remains unchecked, it will condemn many of our kids to shorter lives, as well as the emotional and financial burdens of poor health.

Surgeon general's job is to protect, promote and advance the health, safety and security of the nation.

Overweight and obesity is the second leading cause of death, killing 300,000 people a year, There is not a miracle pill that will lead to weight loss.

As 17th U.S. Surgeon General, I was privileged to serve as the nation's doctor. I focused much of my time on promoting proven programs and individual steps that lead to good health.

Trying to block women from getting access to contraception or defunding Planned Parenthood is completely nonsensical from a policy standpoint.

I really think the most important thing I do is to protect the dignity and the integrity of the Office of the Surgeon General.

The overarching issue, really, is our surgeon general should be able to communicate transparently and honestly with the American public on all issues.

I used to be a real doctor. Now I just play one on TV.

The reason I'm disabled is because I have wounds and injuries that I got while on active duty ... from parachute jumping to combat to gunshot wounds, all that stuff.

My mom used to tell me that the most valuable thing she owned was her library card. We were poor, but that's not what she was talking about. My mom knew that education opened doors and opened minds.

Your consistency says a lot about your commitment.

The last thing she wanted was to see her friend getting ideas in her head. There was such a lot of room in there for them to bounce around and do damage.

You know what would be awesome? . . . If I could have a machete.

Music really is our daily medicine.

Boredom is just the reverse side of fascination: both depend on being outside rather than inside a situation, and one leads to the other.

When I finish playing, I think I'd like to coach college baseball.

You see a lot of fear among Republicans. Oh, man, this guy [Donald Trump] has a lot of vulnerabilities and weaknesses that's not been tested at all yet.

At the time I was taught to read, it was an Eden-like time of my life. My mother adored me. Everyone adored me. So I associate reading with enormous pleasure.

The commonest weakness of our race is our ability to rationalize our most selfish purposes.

Let it be forgotten, as a flower is forgotten, Forgotten as a fire that once was singing gold, Let it be forgotten forever and ever, Time is a kind friend, he will make us old.