The Health Science Center is sponsoring the “South Texas Childhood Obesity Summit” on April 23. The event is designed to build partnerships between universities, non-profit organizations and school districts in order to provide weight-control programs for children and their families.
Although anyone is welcome, school personnel are especially encouraged to attend to make contacts with individuals who can help implement effective weight-control programs.
“I get several calls from school nurses asking me for help with weight-control programs for students,” said Peggy Visio, M.S., R.D., L.D., clinical instructor in the department of pediatrics. “I hope those who attend will understand that there are programs that are effective and schools are in need of proper funding to help implement these programs.”
It is estimated that 50 percent of children are overweight or obese, a higher percentage than ever before, according to the American Obesity Association web site. It states that “poor dietary habits and inactivity are reported to contribute to the increase of obesity in youth. Today's youth are considered the most inactive generation in history, caused in part by reductions in school physical education programs and unavailable or unsafe community recreational facilities.”
The teleconference will be telecasted to three University of Texas Health Science Center campuses: the D.D. Hachar Building in Laredo, the Regional Academic Health Center in Harlingen, and the Central Campus in San Antonio. Each campus will have some live presenters.
Nurses in attendance will receive 6.9 hours of continuing education credits. The registration fee is $10 and includes breakfast and lunch. Registration is available online only:
www.pediatrics.uthscsa.edu/obesitysummit/. For more information, contact Visio at (210) 567-5283.
