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Obesity and
weight control: a major public health issue for the
21st century
The increasing levels of both overweight
and obesity are well documented. This is recognised as a major
public health concern in Northern Ireland as
in the rest of the United Kingdom and Ireland.
This
one day seminar aimed to provide an overview of the topic
of obesity in both children and adults. The speakers outlined
the current theories relating to the development of overweight
and obesity; how they can be measured and classified; the
health and other consequences of being overweight or obese;
and presented strategies for its prevention and management.
Eighty
two delegates attended this seminar from backgrounds such
as education, nursing, occupational health, health promotion,
oral health, nutrition and dietetics, and cardiac rehabilitation.
This
seminar was facilitated by Dr Susan Jebb, Dr Barbara Livingstone
and Professor Andrew Prentice. Dr Livingstone is presently
a Reader in Nutrition with the University of Ulster. Dr Jebb
is a State Registered Dietitian with over 10 years' experience
in the field of nutrition research. Professor Prentice has
recently moved to create the new MRC International Nutrition
Group at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Key
findings from the seminar evaluation results showed:
- An overwhelming majority of delegates felt the management
strategies and practical reinforcement of previous knowledge
was of most value to them.
- The course offered up-to-date relevant information and
question time was beneficial to hear the views of those
from a variety of professional backgrounds.
When asked what impact this course would have on their work
practice, participants' comments included:
- "A greater awareness of how to advise patients on how to manage problems
with being overweight".
- "Made more aware of taking the lead to make all patients
aware of lifestyle changes with perhaps less emphasis on
diet and perhaps more emphasis on activity".
- "Development of obesity support service in my trust."
- "Up-to-date knowledge on which to base advice for teachers/nutritionists".
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