20 August 2008
Australia is one of the fattest nations in the world. Up to 25 per cent of Australian children are obese or overweight compared with 5 per cent in the 1960s.
Obesity poses a major threat to long-term health increasing the risk of chronic illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease. Social stigma and economic costs also have a significant impact. The causes of obesity are complex and cures need to be more than critiques of what people put in their supermarket trolley. Like any epidemic, individual and collective responses are required.
Facilitated by television personality Sigrid Thornton, an expert panel from Monash University will tonight discuss the obesity epidemic and threats to long-term health increasing the risk of chronic illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease. It will ask what can be done to stem the tide.
The panel includes:
Professor Michael Cowley, a renowned obesity researcher, whose research focuses on the understanding the causes of obesity and developing therapies for obesity, and the related illnesses diabetes and hypertension.
Dr Justen O'Connor whose research into early intervention promotion of lifestyle physical activity incorporates a multi and interdisciplinary approach that shifts the focus away from the health care system.
Dr Michelle Haby an epidemiologist with research experience in childhood asthma, injury prevention, mental health, obesity, systematic reviews and analysis of the cost-effectiveness of interventions.
Dr Judith Paphazy, a consulting psychologist who has worked in all levels of education, in mental health, with an AFL football team and has consulted to a broad range of businesses.
What:
Fighting fat - tackling childhood obesity - held as part of Monash University Research Month
When: Wednesday 20 August, 6 pm to 7 pm
Where: BMW Edge Theatre, Federation Square, Melbourne
For further information call Shaunnagh O'Loughlin, Media and Communications on + 61 3 9903 4843.
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