For Immediate Release
October 8, 2004

Media Contact:
Jeannette E. Warnert
Sr. Public Information Representative
UC Ag and Natural Resources
(559) 241-7514
(559) 240-9850 cell
jwarnert@uckac.edu

Kern County health professionals to get latest on childhood obesity

Fresno - University of California, Berkeley, specialists will present two workshops in Bakersfield Oct. 13 and 14 to provide doctors and other health professionals with the latest research findings on combating pediatric obesity.

The rate of pediatric obesity has been rising rapidly the past two decades. One of five American children is overweight.

"It is important that childhood obesity be prevented, rather than treated," said Joanne Ikeda, Cooperative Extension nutrition specialist at UC Berkeley and one of the workshop presenters. "Obese children have a high likelihood of becoming obese adolescents, which can be psychologically traumatic.  Obese teenagers often become obese adults, who then may suffer from the medical problems associated with obesity, such as diabetes and heart disease."

A program for doctors, Dealing with Childhood Overweight in the 15-minute Office Visit, will be from 6 to 9:15 p.m. Oct. 13 at the Four Points Sheraton, 5101 California Ave., in Bakersfield.  The program includes information on the prevalence of pediatric overweight in Kern County, assessing childhood weight using new body mass index charts from the Centers for Disease Control, posing key questions to children and parents, and setting behavioral goals rather than weight goals. 

The presenters are UC Berkeley nutrition specialists Ikeda and Pat Crawford, the co-directors of the UC Berkeley Center for Weight and Health, and Poornima Kunani, M.D., of Kaiser Permanente.

Registration is $25, including dinner.  To register, send name, name of agency, address, phone number, fax number and e-mail address to Jennifer Henry via e-mail jennifer.henry@cancer.org or fax (661) 327-2921.  Indicate a menu preference of grilled chicken with fruit salsa or baked salmon with fruit salsa.  Payment may be made at the door. The program provides two and a half hours of continuing medical education units for physicians.

A 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. program on Oct. 14, What Heath Professionals Can Do, is intended for nurses, nursing aides, registered dietitians and others who work in jobs related to children's health issues.  It will also be held at the Four Points Sheraton, 5101 California Ave., in Bakersfield. Topics of the workshop include the medical risks of pediatric overweight, the feeding relationship, caring for overweight children and teens, and creating an environment that promotes optimal health in children.

Registration for the all-day workshop, including breakfast and lunch, is $25.  To register, send name, name of agency, address, phone number, fax number and e-mail address to Jennifer Henry via e-mail jennifer.henry@cancer.org or fax (661) 327-2921. Payment may be made at the door. The program provides six hours of continuing education units for nurses and registered dietitians.

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