The skinny on Childhood Obesity: The Role of the Paediatrician in Prevention

    TORONTO, May 26 /CNW/ - Childhood obesity continues to increase at an
alarming rate - more than a quarter, or approximately 1.6 million Canadian
children, are overweight or obese. If current trends continue, the proportion
of overweight or obese school-aged children will grow to more than 46 per cent
by 2010.
    You are invited to participate in a webcast on Wednesday, May 28 to hear
the latest research on childhood obesity and the pivotal role the
Paediatrician plays in its prevention.
    The Canadian Council of Food and Nutrition (CCFN) has partnered with the
Program in Food Safety, Nutrition & Regulatory Affairs to gather leading
experts in the field of childhood obesity to speak about current trends, risk
factors, and the role of families, government, educators, food industry, and
health care providers in preventing childhood obesity.
    The CCFN has developed a report, watching brief and fact sheet to provide
more in-depth information for consumers and health professionals on this
important topic.

    Media interviews are available with webcast speakers:

    -   Francy Pillo-Blocka, RD, FDC, President & CEO of the Canadian Council
        of Food and Nutrition
    -   Stanley Zlotkin, CM, MD, PhD, FRCPC, Professor, Department of
        Paediatrics, University of Toronto
        Head, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition,
        Hospital for Sick Children
    -   Glenn Berall, MD, FRCPC, MBA, Chief of Paediatrics, North York
        General Hospital, Hospital for Sick Children, Division of
        Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
        Assistant Professor, Department of Paediatrics & Department of
        Nutritional Sciences
        School of Graduate Studies, University of Toronto
    -   Katherine Morrison, MD, FRCPC, Assistant Professor, Department of
        Paediatrics, McMaster University and McMaster Children's Hospital
    -   Jean-Pierre Chanoine, MD, Clinical Professor and Head, Endocrinology
        & Diabetes Unit
        British Columbia Children's Hospital, University of British Columbia
    -   Linda McCargar, RD, PhD, Department of Agriculture, Food &
        Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry & Home
        Economics, University of Alberta

    Webcast details:

    When: Wednesday, May 28 at 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Eastern (webcast will be
    archived for one year)

    Where: Register at www.ccfn.ca and click the "Web-cast" icon (free of
    charge)

    About The Canadian Council of Food and Nutrition
    ------------------------------------------------
    The Canadian Council of Food and Nutrition is a multi-sectoral, science
and evidence-based organization on food and nutrition policy and information.
We are a catalyst in advancing nutritional health and well-being of Canadians.
Our key priorities and activities serve to influence nutritional health based
on solid scientific evidence. The CCFN has consulted the government on key
nutrition issues and advocates for evidence-based nutrition policy in Canada.
The CCFN is a leading, national non-profit organization that promotes public
understanding of food and nutrition issues including understanding fat and
trans fat, food product labelling, childhood obesity, sodium, vitamin D, and
nutrition trends. For more information, visit www.ccfn.ca.

For further information: Laurie Weir, TRILLIUM Corporate Communications
Inc., Ph: (416) 322-3030 ext. 239, Cell: (416) 277-2453,
laurie@trilliumpr.com