Research and news stories have long conveyed the two key components of a healthy lifestyle-diet and exercise. With the epidemic of obesity reaching more households, the challenge becomes crafting that knowledge into meaningful strategies that can be adopted by various populations and cultures.
University of Houston researcher Rebecca Lee and community stakeholders in the Hispanic and African American communities will meet to talk about the impact of this epidemic on children and ways to intervene through education and research. It's part of the UH Science & Community: Ending Obesity Improving Health project.
"Our project and research works in partnership with communities," said Lee, associate professor of health and human performance and director of the project. "We'll discuss a recent survey of community members that addressed issues they considered most critical, and develop the beginnings of what could be additional research projects and policy proposals related to childhood obesity."
The event is planned for 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 17 in the UH Rockwell Pavilion, on the 2nd floor of the M.D. Anderson Library. The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. In addition, members can participate in a mini-health fair.
The Science & Community: Ending Obesity Improving Health project promotes obesity prevention and reduction in the African American and Hispanic/Latino communities. The project works with community members to develop partnerships that focus on eliminating health disparities among Houstonians. It hosts two symposia each year.
"Our mission includes education and outreach, so getting the information out to the community is an important goal for us to help prevent and reduce obesity in Houston," Lee said. "It's our hope that we can reach as many Houstonians as possible to create a meaningful impact in all residents' lives."
Interested persons should RSVP to scienceandcommunity@yahoo.com or 713-743-1183.
For more information on the Science & Community: Ending Obesity Improving Health project visit http://grants.hhp.coe.uh.edu/undo/?page_id=267
WHAT: Science & Community Open Forum Symposium and Stakeholder Meeting
WHEN: 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 17
WHERE: Rockwell Pavilion, 2nd floor of the M.D. Anderson Library