The Environment's Influence on Obesity

Newswise — You may be your environment.

Social, economic and manmade environments appear to influence diet and physical activity throughout life, and vulnerable populations may be affected more seriously. Journalists are invited to understand the latest research on the environment's impact on being overweight at the conference "Ecology of Obesity: Linking Science and Action" June 6-7 at Cornell University.

The conference on June 6 will be video-linked throughout New York state at the-- Cornell Cooperative Extension offices in Rochester, Watertown, Ellicottville, Binghamton, Plattsburgh, Ballston Spa, Riverhead and Valhalla;-- Weill Cornell Medical College, New York City; and-- University at Albany, School of Public Health, Rensselaer.Journalists are invited to attend the conference either in Ithaca or any of the satellite locations.

The first day will feature the following lectures:-- "Strategies to Address the Obesity Epidemic," James O. Hill, professor of pediatrics and Medicine at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver and director of the Center for Human Nutrition;-- "Obesity and the Built Environment," James F. Sallis, professor of psychology at San Diego State University and director of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Active Living Research Program; and-- "Socioeconomic and Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Obesity," Penny Gordon-Larsen, Assistant Professor, Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina.

On June 7, the second day of the conference " which will not be video-linked " seminar presentations will include: -- "Serving Bowls, Serving Size and Food Consumption," Brian Wansink, professor, Cornell;-- "Work, Workstation Design and Obesity Risks," Alan Hedge, professor, Cornell;-- "The Effect of Transportation Mode Choice on Daily Physical Activity Level of Commuters," Richard Wener, assistant professor, Polytechnic University;-- "Growing Up Poor: Implications for Body Weight into Adulthood," Christine Olson, professor, Cornell; and-- "Family Ecology and Childhood Obesity," Kirsten Davison, assistant professor, University at Albany.