Published by Communications and Public Affairs (519) 824-4120, Ext. 56982 or 53338

News Release

May 01, 2001

U of G hosts symposium on obesity

The University of Guelph’s Human Nutraceutical Research Unit (HNRU) is sponsoring a workshop on obesity May 2 at the Guelph Turfgrass Institute. It runs from 1 to 5:30 p.m. and is open to the media.Speakers and topics include:

1:10 p.m: “The role of physical activity in obesity reduction,” Robert M.J. Ross, School of Physical and Health Education, Queen’s University.

2:10 p.m.: “Childhood obesity,” Oded Bar-Or, professor of pediatrics and director, Children’s Exercise and Nutrition Centre, McMaster University.

3:30 p.m.: “Diet plans: which work and which don’t,” Marielle Ledoux, Department of Nutrition, University of Montreal.

4:30 p.m.: “Chromium and Obesity,” Richard Anderson, USDA Agricultural Research Centre.

The symposium is expected to attract doctors, nurses, dietitcians, pharmacists, students and researchers. “We try to choose topics of interest to a lot of people, and obesity is a hot topic right now,” said Julie Conquer, HNRU’s associate director. “Obesity is a chronic disorder that affects a large number of people, and it is on the rise.”

The HNRU was established in 1999 to perform human research trials on food products containing nutraceuticals, the natural food ingredients known to fight or prevent disease. Part of the unit’s mandate is to organize educational programs. Last year, the symposium focused on cardiovascular disease. For more information, call Conquer or Alison Duncan at (519) 824-4120, Ext. 3749.

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