Georgia experts, including panelists working on the University of Georgia Obesity Initiative, will address the challenge of overweight and obese citizens in the U.S. and Georgia at a conference June 13 from 2-5 p.m. at the Georgia Tech Research Institute Conference Center in Atlanta. The program, sponsored by Georgia Bio, will focus on how government, academia and industry are working together, particularly with respect to childhood obesity.

The event features keynote speakers William Dietz, director of the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Brenda Fitzgerald, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Health.

Other panelists include:

• Clifton A. Baile, Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar in Agricultural Biotechnology, Distinguished Professor of Animal Science and Food and Nutrition, director of the UGA Obesity Initiative;

• Mark Wilson, professor and department head, department of health promotion and behavior, College of Public Health;

• Linda Matzigkeit, chief administrative officer, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta; and

• Deborah Young-Hyman, professor of pediatrics, Georgia Health Sciences University.

UGA Obesity Initiative

The UGA Obesity Initiative harnesses diverse and extensive obesity-related instruction, research activities and public service and outreach components to address this multi-faceted problem in Georgia. The initiative is developing obesity prevention and treatment programs that interested Georgia communities, employers and healthcare providers can implement.

Posted June 4, 2012.