Penn childhood obesity researchers panelists at AAAS event

Shiriki Kumanyika, PhD, MPH, Professor of Epidemiology and Associate Dean for Health Promotion and Health Prevention, at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and Virginia A. Stallings, MD, PhD, the Jean A. Cortner Endowed Chair in Pediatric Gastroenterology at Penn and Professor of Pediatrics at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, will be part of a panel at a special public session, Understanding Obesity and Childhood at the 2008 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) annual meeting in Boston.

The media, teachers, school heath professionals, parents, students, scientists, and the public are invited to attend this free town-hall-style event on understanding the science behind obesity and childhood nutrition.

Dr. Kumanyika will talk about interactions between cultural, social, and environmental factors as they influence child and parent behaviors related to obesity. She will highlight challenges for addressing ethnic disparities in childhood obesity.

Dr. Stallings will speak about nutrition standards for food in schools.

The Obesity and Nutrition Town Hall will take place on Sunday, February 17, 2008 EST from 1:15PM -5:30PM at the Boston Marriott Copley Place. Seating is limited and advance registration is strongly recommended. To register, go to http://registration.expoexchange.com/ShowAAA081/ and select "Go to Registration for the Town Hall"