Getting Arms Around Childhood Obesity Focus of Colorado Summit Students Tackle Growing Issue: KEYSTONE, Colo., June 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Students throughout the country are tackling the issue of childhood obesity and nutrition with corporate leaders from Abbott, Cargill, Coca-Cola and Kraft Foods and other government, industry, education and non-profit organizations as part of a national forum being held in Keystone, Colorado, during the week of June 11-18. More than 40 students from schools across the country who are taking part in The Keystone Center Youth Policy Summit on Child and Adolescent Nutrition in America have been researching and studying the issue since last December, when they committed to being part of the program. During their week in this resort community west of Denver, the students will present their research findings, participate in in-depth discussions on the issue and learn from a panel of food, nutrition, and medical experts from prominent non-profit organizations, corporations, and government agencies. The summit will culminate with the students drafting a national public policy recommendation related to this topic. According to the American Obesity Association, about 15.5 percent of adolescents (ages 12 to 19) and 15.3 percent of children (ages 6 to 11) are obese. Furthermore, the Centers for Disease Control report that the treatment of illnesses related to obesity costs Americans $93 billion a year. The student-generated policy recommendation will be disseminated nationally to hundreds of thought leaders from government, industry, education and the non-profit sector, as well as major and regional media. Students involved in the program spent months researching the topic of adolescent nutrition and obesity in U.S. by surveying students, parents and administrators on the current state of nutrition and obesity in their own schools. They also researched the social and scientific aspects of the issue, current policies, and different views on solutions. The students will present the perspective and viewpoints of a particular stakeholder during facilitated negotiations at the summit. "This program provides outstanding learning opportunities in the areas of research, critical thinking, and decision-making," said Peter Adler, Ph.D., president, The Keystone Center. "By asking questions and interacting with experts and stakeholders, students increase their understanding of this complicated issue and the social and political implications of addressing it." The Summit's expert panel includes: -- Rhona Applebaum, Ph.D., Chief Regulatory Officer, The Coca-Cola Company -- Mark Berlind, Executive Vice President, Global Corporate Affairs, Kraft Foods -- Dr. Lisa Harnack, Associate Professor and Assistant Director, Nutrition Coordinating Center, University of Minnesota, Division of Epidemiology -- Tony Jorstad, Director of Food Service, Brighton Public Schools, Colorado -- Mitch Kanter, Director of Nutrition, Cargill -- Matt Longjohn, MD, MPH, Executive Director, Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children -- Jim Muldavin, Executive Director, The California Center for Civic Participation and Youth Development -- Robert Murray, MD, Director, Medical Affairs, Pediatric Nutritionals, Ross Products Division, Abbott -- Rodger Steeper, MD, Internal Medicine, Denver, Colorado -- Dr. Susan Yanovski, Co-Director, Office of Obesity Research, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases The Keystone Center Youth Policy Summit is a collaboration between The Keystone Center and the National Consortium for Specialized Secondary Schools of Mathematics, Science & Technology (NCSSSMST). Sponsors of the summit include Abbott Laboratories, The Coca-Cola Company, Kraft Foods, and Cargill. Participating schools include: -- Conroe ISD Academy of Science and Technology, Houston, Texas -- Center for Advanced Technologies, St. Petersburg, Florida -- Berrien County Mathematics and Science Center, Berrien Springs, Michigan -- Liberal Arts and Science Academy of Austin at LBJ High School, Austin, Texas -- Central Virginia's Governor's School for Science and Technology, Lynchburg, Virginia -- Illinois Math and Science Academy, Aurora, Illinois -- High School for Math, Science and Engineering at the City College, New York City, New York -- Lakeshore Math/Science Center, Stevensville, Michigan -- North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, Durham, North Carolina -- Arkansas School for Math, Science and the Arts, Hot Springs, Arkansas. The Keystone Center Headquartered in Keystone, Colorado, The Keystone Center strives to equip citizens with deliberative frameworks, democratic processes, analytical information, and critical-thinking skills to navigate tough problems and develop solutions. Through its two major programs, The Keystone Center for Science and Public Policy and the Center for Education, The Keystone Center improves decisions about long-term issues by helping thought-leaders and decision-makers effectively address technically complex, politically uncertain situations and by helping students learn and teachers teach. For more information on The Keystone Center, visit http://www.keystone.org/ . National Consortium for Specialized Secondary Schools of Mathematics, Science and Technology (NCSSSMST) The NCSSSMST is the nation's foremost alliance of schools dedicated to transforming mathematics, science, and technology education to create synergies among schools engaged in educational innovation by shaping national policy, fostering collaboration, and developing, testing, implementing and disseminating exemplary programs. The NCSSSMST was established in 1988 to provide a forum for schools to exchange information and program ideas and to evolve alliances between them. There are currently 80 institutional members (secondary schools), representing more than 35,000 students and 1,400 educators. These are joined by over 100 affiliate members (colleges, universities, and corporations) who share the goals of transforming mathematics, science, and technology education. For more information, visit http://www.ncsssmst.org/ . DATASOURCE: Abbott CONTACT: Kasey Geoghegan, +1-970-513-5823, , or Peter Adler, +1-970-513-5841, , both of The Keystone Center, or Julie Ferguson of Abbott, +1-847-936-6116, Web site: http://www.abbott.com/ http://www.keystone.org/ http://www.ncsssmst.org/ Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/110328.html

Copyright