**31. BRETTE MCWHORTER SEMBER, author of "Your Plus-Size Pregnancy: The Ultimate Guide for the Full-Figured Expectant Mom," points out that obesity is on the rise during pregnancy: "As the number of overweight women in this country continues to grow, so too does the number of overweight pregnant women. However, it is important that the media and health care providers understand that it is dangerous for anyone (even plus-size women) to lose weight during pregnancy, and some weight gain in necessary and healthy for even the largest women. Instead, there needs to be better postpartum care that helps and supports women as they deal with nursing and postpartum body changes, and provides information for them about how to safely lose weight after the birth of a baby."
**32. DEBBIE MANDEL, author, stress management specialist and radio show host: "The problem with treating obesity is in the term 'combating obesity.' We need a more pacifistic approach as opposed to a militant one. Stress management is key to helping people find their emotional balance -- recognizing why they eat what they do. Is it to feed an empty heart, comfort an old hurt, or perhaps there lurks a rebellious teenager inside. A major tool of stress management is exercise, which sheds stress hormones and releases endorphins. Exercise helps us to organize our day around good health. By directing the public's focus to quickly decompressing and studying the essentials of happiness, we will stop waging a war against our food."
**33. EVE VAN CAUTER, sleep specialist and professor of medicine at the UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO: "There is a sense that you can pack in more of life by skimping on sleep, but we are finding that people tend to replace reduced sleep with added calories, and that's not a healthy trade. Americans have cut their average sleep time by nearly two hours since 1960. We found that partial sleep deprivation alters the circulating levels of hormones that regulate hunger, increasing appetite and desire for calorie-dense foods. In one of our studies, subjects who slept only four hours a night for two nights had an 18 percent decrease in leptin, which signals fullness, and a 28 percent increase in ghrelin, which triggers hunger."
**34. KAY STEARNS BRUENING, Ph.D., R.D., associate professor of nutrition at the College of Human Services and Health Professions at SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY, oversees a family-based child obesity intervention program: "We know that parental involvement is vital when it comes to successful weight management among children. By offering healthy food choices and modeling healthy eating behaviors, parents are a great influence over their children's diets." The 12-week program emphasizes physical activity and behavior modification with the goal of teaching children and families about healthy food choices and the prevention of overeating.
**35. LUVENIA COWART, ED.D., R.N., assistant dean of student affairs at the College of Human Services and Health Professions at SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY, is developing a culturally competent obesity intervention model for African- Americans: "Designing an intervention that addresses health literacy and cultural competence is imperative to success in reaching the target population." The program is designed to provide knowledge and awareness of health risks, motivation and support to modify behaviors and empowerment to maintain behavior changes. Cowart is working with a community advisory group.
**36. MARINA KAMEN, owner of the KAMEN ENTERTAINMENT GROUP: "The fitness experts have failed America. Fitness in America has become too technical. Working out does not have to be a homework assignment. If you don't diet you can't cheat. Guilt, which leads to depression can lead to food addiction. These are the same triggers as any addict who turns to drugs or alcohol." A 46-year-old mom of three kids, Kame lost 100 pounds with portion control and has been writing/producing fitness products and podcasts, recently winning in the Health & Fitness category in podcasting. Kamen's clients have included QVC and Jackie Chan's CableFlex.
**37. JACOB TEITELBAUM, M.D., board certified internist and director of the CENTER FOR EFFECTIVE CFS/FIBROMYALGIA THERAPIES in Annapolis, M.D.: "Stress in its many forms, both physical and emotional, is the major culprit. Physical stress -- infections, nutritional deficiencies and toxic chemical exposure -- and emotional stress -— working too hard, sleeping too little, worrying and perhaps facing a toxic boss every day -- can result in a metabolic chain reaction that results in weight gain." Teitelbaum, author of the best-seller "From Fatigued to Fantastic," notes that hypothyroidism is often a hidden factor that can be treated.
**38. PETER PRESSMAN, M.D., obesity expert at the INSTITUTE OF FOOD TECHNOLOGISTS, contributing editor to Food Technology magazine, and practicing physician and attending staff of internal medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles: "If surgery is to be only the final recourse for elective management of obesity, then we may be on a slippery slope on many dimensions. Developing interventions that take into account multiple factors is mandatory. And in the name of public health, the sooner the better."
**39. PETER LEPORT, M.D., medical director of ORANGE COAST MEMORIAL HOSPITAL's Center for Obesity: "Obesity is a harsh reality for millions of Americans and can no longer be viewed as only the individual's problem. It has also become society's problem. The epidemic has touched the workplace, our homes and has crept its way into schools around the country. You can't just tell kids, 'Don't eat junk food; it's wrong.' They need to understand why it is wrong. They need to think for themselves. Enabling children to lead fit and healthy lifestyles does not require dramatic change in our culture and communities; it requires a committed group of role models in the form of parents and teachers who can show children how to think independently."
**40. DR. KAREN WALKER, Ph.D., nursing professor, TEMPLE UNIVERSITY, has worked extensively on the design and implementation of community-based weight-loss and exercise programs. Walker's current study involves the comparison of two behavior-modification programs, where one group is asked to walk for 30 minutes a day and a second group is asked to use a pedometer to increase their average steps by 4,000. "We think that people who add more activity to their lives by taking more steps each day will be more successful, because this approach offers more flexibility."
**41. DR. REBECCA LEE, assistant professor at the UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON's department of health and human performance, has recently received a large grant from the National Institute of Health and has conducted numerous studies that examine the cultural influences on diet and nutrition. The study, the first of its kind, will examine African-American and Hispanic women: "This research will provide valuable insight into an area in which there is little information, and that is women of color and the factors that influence their physical activity. Our findings could have far reaching effects that lead to better environments and healthier lives."
**42. DR. DIANNE WARD, professor and associate chair of nutrition at the UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL's school of public health and medicine, has more than 30 years of experience in research studies and program development in the area of overweight prevention and physical activity promotion with children and youth. Ward is the principal investigator of the Get Kids in Action Study, a partnership between UNC's School of Public Health and Department of Athletics and The Gatorade Company, which is designed to increase physical activity among children to reduce and prevent children from becoming overweight. Focused on identifying real and proven solutions to increase physical activity that can be replicated in communities across the United States, Get Kids in Action targets the full range of individuals who impact this complex problem including physicians, families and community leaders.
**43. ROBERT FERGUSON is a master wellness coach, seasoned martial artist and co-author of "Fat That Doesn't Come Back." Ferguson, along with his wife, Krista Clarke, own and operate two wellness weight-loss centers in Southern California. Ferguson has been dealing with obesity epidemic for the last 10 years, helping people with nutritional regiments as well as designing fitness routines to suit the individual. One of his keys to attack the obesity problem is the psychological need of the individual. He believes that if you change the mind, he can then change your body. Ferguson and Clark have united their expertise and over 30 combined years of helping people of all ages, sizes, ethnicities and genetic makeups succeed with releasing fat.
**44. ROGER A. CLEMENS, Ph.D., expert with the INSTITUTE OF FOOD TECHNOLOGISTS, specializes in nutritional biochemistry, nutrition, dietary supplements, diet and health, pediatric diet and health and more. Formerly with Nestle' food company, Clemens is currently at the USC School of Pharmacy and a contributing editor at Food Technology magazine.
**45. DR. LARRY D. HENSLEY, professor of physical education and director of the Youth Fitness and Obesity Institute at the UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA, coordinates the Physical Activity and Nutrition Among Rural Youth (PANARY) project for the Institute. His research focuses on psychosocial factors related to physical activity and physical fitness of children, surveillance of activity and nutrition behaviors of children and school physical education programs.
**46. LLOYD LAUBACH, professor in the department of health and sport science at the UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON, is an expert on childhood obesity. He sits on a task force composed of other Dayton, Ohio-area health professionals to study rates of childhood obesity in the area and develop best practices for reducing them. He led an effort by the UD department of health and sport science to address the issue with a department-wide commitment to research on the epidemic of childhood obesity.
**47. DAVID PRATT, M.D., director of health care and medical operations at GE ENERGY, is an expert on living a healthy lifestyle and was instrumental in implementing GE's corporate wellness program, "Health By Numbers." Under his leadership, 1,000 GE Energy employees lost 5,000 pounds in 2003. Pratt is available to comment on what employers can do to encourage a healthy lifestyle and help employees combat obesity.
**48. DR. CEDRIC X. BRYANT, chief exercise physiologist and vice president of educational services for the AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EXERCISE (ACE), lectures nationally and internationally on topics related to exercise, fitness and nutrition. He has authored/co-authored 14 books and nearly 200 articles in magazines, including the Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Medicine and Science in Sports & Exercise. Bryant also serves as a health and fitness expert for national media outlets, including USA Today, Washington Post, New York Times, Parade Magazine and CNN's "Headline News."
**49. ABBY S. BLOCH, Ph.D., is vice president of programs and research for the DR. ROBERT C. ATKINS FOUNDATION, which funded Trust for America's Health's recent study on obesity. In less than two years, she has overseen the foundation's allocation of nearly $12 million in funding for cutting-edge scientific research into the role of metabolism and nutrition in obesity and other major health issues. Bloch can discuss how such studies could inform and potentially foster future government funding for obesity research.
**50. JENIFER BLAND-CAMPBELL, MS, RD, senior director of nutrition program development at ARAMARK, works to provide nutrition guidance and consultation to chefs developing menu programs that reach the 15 million customers ARAMARK serves every day in health care institutions, businesses, universities, school districts, sports and entertainment facilities, and convention and conference centers. Bland-Campbell has more than 20 years' experience in foodservice and clinical nutrition management, and has appeared in print and broadcast media.
**51. DR. OKSANA A. MATVIENKO, assistant professor of health, physical education and leisure services at the UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA, which is home to the Youth Fitness & Obesity Institute, specializes in the prevention of childhood obesity; nutrition, physical activity and body-weight regulation; and nutrition education and behavior modification strategies to adopt a healthy, active lifestyle.
**52. DR. IRADGE AHRABI-FARD, professor of health, physical education and leisure services at the UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA, specializes in the prevention of childhood obesity and the role of physical education in prevention of childhood obesity. He is also the project coordinator for the NutriActive Lifestyle Experience through the university's Youth Fitness and Obesity Institute.
**53. OSAMA HAMDY, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Obesity Clinic at JOSLIN DIABETES CENTER in Boston, was involved in the development of Joslin's nutrition guidelines for people with type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes who are overweight or obese. Hamdy is also involved in Joslin's new weight-loss program, Why WAIT? (Weight Achievement & Intensive Treatment).
**54. DIRK RODRIGUEZ, M.D., FACS, bariatric surgeon at the METHODIST HEALTH SYSTEM: "Obesity is a disease. Overweight patients face higher health risks in areas including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, back and joint problems and psychological issues."
**55. DR. TOM FARLEY, chair of the community health sciences department at the TULANE UNIVERSITY School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, is co- author of "Prescription for a Healthy Nation."
ROUND-UP: IMPACT OF HURRICANE KATRINA (continued)
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**1. JASON NIER, associate professor of psychology at CONNECTICUT COLLEGE, can talk about the psychology of looting. Nier explains this behavior as "deindividuation," in which people lose their sense of self-awareness and no longer feel like they will be held accountable for their actions: "Normally, people's behavior is governed by their own values, as well as societal values, but under some circumstance people's behavior is no longer constrained by such moral codes. The product of 'deindividuation' is usually anti-social, non-normative behavior, of which looting is an example."
**2. SUSAN WEEKS, MS, RN, nursing instructor at TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY and Red Cross-trained disaster counselor: "Individuals who have been impacted by Hurricane Katrina face unique challenges, and it's not unusual for individuals to experience the following: recurrent thoughts of the crisis and a need to talk about the crisis; becoming startled easily; periods of non- productivity; tension/conflict between family members; symptoms of depression and/or of anxiety; and difficulty concentrating and/or with decision making. The goal of recovery is to help the impacted individuals develop a 'new normal.' Although the hurricane may not allow them to return to life as they knew it before, they can begin to piece together a new sense of normalcy."
**3. THOMAS PERRY, director of engineering services, SHAWMUT DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION: "Officials are saying it would take three weeks to pump the water from New Orleans in the best of conditions. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, it could take months. Flooding and extensive water damage can be detrimental to buildings as they suffer long-term effects of the damage. Nationally, all commercial and academic buildings such as schools, universities, restaurants and retail stores must be carefully inspected for mold and internal structural damage before a rebuild." Perry, a LEED- accredited executive with a national construction company, can discuss steps owners need to take to insure the sustainability of rebuilt facilities.
**4. PARTICK LIBBEY, executive director of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY AND CITY HEALTH OFFICIALS (NACCHO), the national organization representing local public health agencies, is available to comment on threats to public health in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Libbey can illustrate the health dangers a hurricane brings, how public health officials prepare for these storms and what challenges they face in the aftermath.
**5. DR. MORI MORIKAWA, director of international health and the department of family medicine at the UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS OF CLEVELAND, can discuss health concerns following natural disasters. The organization has developed a disaster management program that seeks to teach health professionals how to recognize and respond to children's needs in humanitarian emergencies.
ROUND-UP: SAFETY OF PAIN RELIEVERS (continued)
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**1. DR. JOHN PRUNSKIS, M.D., FIPP, co-founder of THE ILLINOIS PAIN INSTITUTE: "As the initial verdict in the Vioxx case was announced last week, the public needs to be educated on the many safe and effective treatment alternatives for patients who are prone to the health risks of COX-2 medicines." Prunskis, one of the nation's most esteemed pain management specialists, has referred hundreds of patients in the Chicagoland area who have been fearful that their pain control would take horrific turns for the worse after discontinuing their COX-2 treatment. He has several Chicago-area patients who would make excellent case histories for a story on managing pain in a post COX-2 environment.
ROUND-UP: COUNTERFEIT PHARMACEUTICALS (continued)
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**1. DR. RONALD ZIANCE, of the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN NEVADA College of Pharmacy: "We need a global definition of counterfeit, illicit, substandard. Additionally, we need to develop a global capacity to regulate counterfeit drugs. In the past, regulators have been reactive to horrific situations involving counterfeit drugs. As a long-time pharmacist and instructor of pharmacy students, I believe the real challenge must be extended to the pharmacy, where pharmacists must learn to spot the differences between legitimate and counterfeit drugs. Pharmacists can serve as a great line of defense with the aid of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy."
ROUND-UP: PREVENTION/TREATMENT OF OVARIAN CANCER (continued)
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**1. ROBERT E. BRISTOW, M.D., FACOG, gynecologic oncologist at JOHNS HOPKINS HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS, has co-authored a comprehensive guide to ovarian cancer that offers a wealth of information to ease the physical, emotional and psychological suffering of women with the disease: "It is the right of each patient to be informed, involved and in control of her own care. Quality of life, self-determination and living life to the fullest is key." Excelling at providing detailed medical information and how it relates to diagnosis and treatment, Bristow offers practical tips on ways to reduce the side effects of treatment and stresses the importance of self- determination.
_____LEADS
**1. HEALTH: FISH OIL SUPPLEMENTS -- IS THE BRAND YOU'RE TAKING SAFE? BECKY GOLDBURG, Ph.D., senior scientist at ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE: "Fish oil supplements are a great way to reduce your risk of heart disease, but all supplements are not created equal. Consumers should be aware of potential risks from environmental contaminants such as PCBs and dioxins. The fact that more companies have voluntarily come forward with this information since the original release of our study shows that they recognize this is an important issue to their customers and impacts the way they do business."
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