Fall 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Talk begins at 3:30, reception to follow
Room: LH-150
Approaches to Prevention of Childhood Obesity
Presenter: Leann L. Birch,Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University
Childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the US. At present we lack effective approaches to prevent the problem. Obesity results when eating and activity patterns lead to positive energy balance and weight gain. Eating behavior is learned: children learn what, when, and how much to eat. Preventing childhood obesity will require applying findings of research on how learning and experience shape the development of eating behavior during infancy and childhood. Successful approaches to preventing childhood obesity will involve behavioral solutions that target children’s early learning and experience with food and eating, and that modify parent-child interactions during feeding.