Register Now: With Childhood Obesity Only on the Rise, Internationally Recognized Medical Professionals to Discuss Opportunities to Protect Our Future Generations

For more information, contact our Media Relations Manager, Ted Griggs, 225-763-2862 or our Communications Director, Lisa Stansbury, at 225-763-2978. Our news email box is also available at news@pbrc.edu.

Released: Friday, November 10, 2017

Pennington Biomedical Research Center 10th Anniversary Childhood Obesity and Public Health Conference 2017, November 15
Making the Grade: Impact of Public Health Report Cards on Physical Activity and Obesity

WHAT:                
Led by Pennington Biomedical's Dr. Peter Katzmarzyk, the 10th annual childhood obesity and public health conference is on Wednesday, November 15, 2017 and will feature several internationally recognized medical professionals. Among the highlights will be Dr. Katzmarzyk's presentation on “The Day in the life of a 10 year old in Baton Rouge,” which examines the role of activity, sleep and screen time and its effect on children's health. The free conference is open to the public and will shed light on cutting-edge research aimed to help children stay healthy and maintain proper physical activity.

WHO:                  
In addition to several local speakers, the conference will feature four invited internationally recognized experts:

  • Dr. Heidi Stanish
    Associate Professor of Exercise and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Boston
  • Dr. Thomas McKenzie
    Emeritus Professor of Exercise and National Sciences, San Diego State University  
  • Dr. Mark Tremblay
    Director of Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario
  • Dr. Russell Pate
    Professor, Department of Exercise Science in the Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina

WHEN:
November 15, 2017, 9am – 3pm

Dr. Peter Katzmarzyk, along with other Pennington Biomedical researchers and invited speakers will be available for interviews on-site.

WHY:                   
Childhood obesity is at its highest level in recorded history, putting future generations at high risk of dying prematurely. Collaboration is key to discovering innovative methods to protect our future generations.

CONTACT:          
To register for the conference, please visit: https://www.pbrc.edu/childhood_obesity_conference/registration.aspx. Registration is limited and first-come, first-served.  For additional information or to schedule an interview, please contact Pennington Biomedical at news@pbrc.edu or 225-763-2750.

ABOUT DR. PETER KATZMARZYK 

Dr. Peter Katzmarzyk is the Associate Executive Director for Population and Public Health Sciences at LSU's Pennington Biomedical Research Center.  His main research interest is the epidemiology and public health impact of obesity and physical inactivity, and determining the relationships between physical activity, physical fitness, obesity and related disorders such as metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, particularly in children and youth.

Dr. Katzmarzyk has published his research findings in more than 450 scholarly journals and books, and regularly participates in the scientific meetings of several national and international organizations. He is currently an associate editor for Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, and an editorial board member for Pediatric Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders.

Dr. Katzmarzyk's scientific advocacy efforts include the organization of an annual public health conference on childhood obesity at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, and chairing the research advisory committee for the development of The United States Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth.

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The Pennington Biomedical Research Center is at the forefront of medical discovery as it relates to understanding the triggers of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and dementia. It is a campus of Louisiana State University and conducts basic, clinical and population research. The research enterprise at Pennington Biomedical includes approximately 80 faculty and more than 25 post-doctoral fellows who comprise a network of 44 laboratories supported by lab technicians, nurses, dietitians, and support personnel, and 13 highly specialized core service facilities. Pennington Biomedical's more than 500 employees perform research activities in state-of-the-art facilities on the 222-acre campus located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.