Community Health Network and UB Plan Obesity Conference for Oct. 3

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Responding to a national and regional problem that has reached epidemic proportions, the Community Health Network of Western New York and the Office of the Vice President for Research at the University at Buffalo are partnering to present a conference on obesity from 8 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. on Oct. 3 in Michael's Banquet Facility, 4885 Southwestern Blvd., Hamburg.

The conference will be sponsored by BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York and Rite Aid.

With nearly one-third of U.S. adults and 15 percent of children being obese, communities across the nation, including the eight counties of Western New York, are struggling to devise practical and effective strategies to combat this disease.

The day-long conference, "Obesity: From Cells to Society," will engage the community in an important discussion about the issue, addressing the science and quality-of-life issues behind obesity, as well as its affect on Western New York communities.

Keynote speakers will be John M. Jakicic, Ph.D., associate professor and director of the Physical Activity and Weight Management Research Center at the University at Pittsburgh, and Sen. Mary Lou Rath, co-chair of the New York State Senate's Task Force on Wellness.

Jaylan Turkkan, Ph.D., UB vice president for research, will present opening remarks at 9 a.m., following registration and breakfast.

Faculty members from the UB departments of Pediatrics and Social and Preventive Medicine who have done research on obesity and related topics will participate in a two panel discussions. They are Leonard Epstein, Ph.D., professor of pediatrics; Carlos Crespo, Ph.D., associate professor of social and preventive medicine; Joan Dorn, Ph.D., associate professor of social and preventive medicine, and Teresa Quattrin, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics and a specialist in pediatric endocrine disorders at Women's and Children's Hospital of Buffalo.

The registration fee for the conference, open to all interested persons, is $35 and includes lunch. To register or for more information, contact Sandy Seege at 887-8455 or seege@healthnow.org.

The Community Health Network of Western New York develops regional partnerships among citizens, public, private and nonprofit sectors of the community to measurably improve community health. Since its inception in 2000, the network has become a regional "master coalition" of health organizations convening area health-care providers and insurers to enhance access to health services, provide "safety net linkages" and better assess community health.