April 29, 2008
May Conference to address impact of obesity, nutrition on health
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue University Department of Foods and Nutrition will present its annual May Conference on Thursday (May 1) in Pfendler Hall.Highlights of "Prevention, Pediatrics and Practice: A May Basket of Nutrition" will include two sessions that explore the effect childhood obesity has on bone breaks and metabolic syndrome, a session on the relationship between dietary variety and obesity and a presentation exploring the link between zinc and immune function.
Featured speakers are:
* Connie Weaver, distinguished professor and head of Purdue's Department of Foods and Nutrition, was a member of the U.S. Department of Agriculture review committee that produced the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and is a national figure in calcium research.
* Stacey Mobley, an assistant professor of Foods and Nutrition, directs the Didactic Program in Dietetics and researches clinical nutrition, calcium metabolism and epidemiological studies.
* Megan McCrory, an assistant professor of foods and nutrition, researches the influence of dietary factors on calorie intake and weight control, as well as dietary composition and eating patterns and the psychological reasons contributing to how much individuals eat.
* Pamela J. Fraker, a professor and biologist at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich., examines nutritional immunology and how white blood cells respond to stress. Fraker is a recent inductee to the National Academy of Sciences.
* Charles Santerre, a professor of foods and nutrition, studies food toxicology. Santerre has developed an online tool called X-Train to provide continuing education credits for professionals.
* Mary Ellen Posthauer, a registered dietitian and consultant to Supreme Care West, Inc., is an expert in the treatment of decubitous sores, commonly known as bed sores or pressure sores. She was president of the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel and is currently the alumni adviser to the NPUAP board of directors.
* Sister Mary Alan Stuart has served as a dietitian for Appalachian Outreach Nutritional Services in various capacities since 1992. She was formerly director of the Coordinated Program in Dietetics at the University of Kentucky and an associate member of the graduate faculty.
The conference is open to the public. Participants may register by calling (765) 494-0243 or (800) 359-2968. Registration for the conference without lunch also will be available at the conference. For the conference schedule, go to https://www.cfs.purdue.edu/fn/Conference2008.shtml
May Conference is held in conjunction with the Foods and Nutrition Hall of Fame awards reception. The reception and presentations will be in the East Faculty Lounge of Purdue Memorial Union following the conference from 4-6 p.m. Information about the 2008 recipients is available at https://www.cfs.purdue.edu/fn/
Professionals can earn continuing education credits by participating in May Conference. The Department of Foods and Nutrition is an approved continuing education provider by the American Dietetic Association.
Writer: Tanya Brown, (765) 494-2079, tanyabrown@purdue.edu
Source: Connie Weaver, (765) 494-8237, weavercm@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
Note to Journalists: Media interested in covering May Conference should contact Tanya Brown, Purdue News Service, at (765) 494-2079 or e-mail tanyabrown@purdue.edu
To the News Service home page