About the discussion
Tuesday, November 17, 7 to 9 p.m.
Guests / Invitées: Jennifer McGrath, Marie Lambert, Tracie Barnett
Moderator: Owen Moran
Venue: Coop La Maison Verte, 5785 Sherbrooke Ouest (@ Melrose)
Childhood obesity is a rapidly growing health concern and a known contributor to conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. With a known link to poor diet and reduced physical activity, researchers are broadening their focus from a traditional clinical approach to include factors such as the built environment, stress, and the quantity and quality of sleep in children. These, in turn, can be affected by cultural trends, socioeconomic status, and demographics which raises issues regarding neighbourhood security, availability of indoor and outdoor recreational space, and the impact of school schedules on lifestyle and behaviour. In this Café Scientifque-style conversation we will hear from researchers working on this issue and discuss the different contributors to childhood obesity and how increasing our understanding of the problem can have significant impact not only on individuals choices but on policy and planning in our communities.
Guests:
Marie Lambert is a pediatrician and a medical geneticist working in the Department of Pediatrics, CHU Sainte-Justine and Université de Montréal. She has been the Director of CHU Sainte-Justine Lipid Clinic for many years. Her research interests focus on identifying and understanding the genetic, biological, behavioural and environmental determinants of obesity and cardiovascular risk factors in youth.
Tracie Barnett is a researcher at Sainte-Justine hospital and assistant professor in the department of social and preventive medicine at Université de Montréal. She is interested in understanding physical and social environments including the neighbourhood, school, and family home, and how these influence youth physical activity, eating behaviours, and weight.
Jennifer J. McGrath is an associate professor at Concordia University. Her research focuses on the development of risk factors for cardiovascular disease that occur early in childhood and adolescence. Current projects examine how stress and sleep are associated with the development of obesity and metabolic syndrome in youth. She is particularly interested in better understanding why poorer individuals have poorer health.
Moderator:
Owen Moran is a health promotion specialist at Concordia University Health Services. The goal of his work is to help people achieve their optimal health potential. Owen whose extensive travels have helped shape his worldview, wholeheartedly believes that an individual’s health is his or her greatest resource and should be nurtured and protected.