Conference to address important next steps for New Jersey on Dec. 11
WHAT: One-day conference, “Obesity Prevention in New Jersey-The State of the State: Important Next Steps,” featuring national and state obesity prevention experts.
WHERE: East Brunswick Hilton, 3 Tower Center Boulevard, East Brunswick, NJ. 732-828-2000.
WHEN: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tues., Dec. 11, 2012.
WHO: An range of national and statewide speakers will present the latest research and innovative techniques to battle the obesity epidemic and outline important next steps for New Jersey with respect to obesity prevention. They include:
Terry T-K Huang, professor and chair of the Department of Health Promotion, Social and Behavioral Health at UNMC College of Public Health. Huang is a member of the White House Healthy Kids Working Group and senior adviser to the National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research.
David Chenoweth, internationally renowned specialist in worksite health management.
Marlene Schwartz, deputy director, Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University.
The Rutgers Department of Family and Community Health Sciences and the New Jersey Institute for Food, Nutrition and Health at Rutgers University, in partnership with Shaping NJ, a unit of the New Jersey Department of Health; the New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids/NJ YMCA State Alliance; and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
BACKGROUND: During the past four decades, obesity rates have soared among all age groups, increasing more than fourfold among children ages six to 11. This rising tide of obesity is a real threat to New Jersey. Over 23% of the state’s adults are obese and over 10% of all children are obese. More seriously, over 17% of New Jersey’s toddlers (age 2-4 years) are obese, putting the Garden State among the 10 worst states for that demographic group. The conference is geared towards “on-the-ground” professionals and individuals who can implement critical recommendations to reduce obesity, including health educators, health care providers, dieticians, teachers, school nurses, food service providers, PE teachers, early care educators and parents.
Media Contact: Paula Walcott-Quintin
848-932-4204
E-mail: quintin@aesop.rutgers.edu