WASHINGTON, DC—On Tuesday, November 25, 2008, the Obesity Institute at Children's National Medical Center gathered experts from many disciplines to share ideas, failures and successes, and the future promise of prevention and intervention strategies to fight childhood obesity, both in the District of Columbia and nationwide.
Through the Obesity Institute, Children's National seeks to reduce childhood obesity using a multidisciplinary approach that draws upon our experts from throughout Children's National, as well as research, clinical, policy, and advocacy partners region.
"There is no single cause for the increase in childhood obesity, but certainly high fat diets and lack of exercise are contributing factors," said Denice Cora-Bramble, MD, MBA , executive director of the Goldberg Center for Community Pediatric Health at Children's National. "Likewise, there is no single answer to systematically solving the problem. But the upward trend, especially here in the District, demands that we develop effective interventions faster."
Children's Obesity Institute tackles these issues from all angles. The Institute's multidisciplinary approach allows for a better understanding of the causes and barriers around this disorder, analyzing them from the laboratories that study the genetics to the community interventions impacting family lifestyles. Scientists, pediatricians, psychologists, psychiatrists, and many others presented their most recent efforts to uncover the underlying risk factors for childhood obesity and the earlier onset of type 2 diabetes.
Presentations included:
"This is the first of many such meetings that will bring together our best and brightest investigators on this issue," said Joseph Wright, MD , executive director of the Child Health Advocacy Institute at Children's National. "These collaborations allow our teams to develop effective strategies locally through multidisciplinary studies. Then, as a national research and education leader, we can help similar communities replicate our successes."
Children's National Medical Center, located in Washington, DC, is a proven leader in the development of innovative new treatments for childhood illness and injury. Children's has been serving the nation's children for more than 135 years. Children's National is proudly ranked among the best pediatric hospitals in America by US News & World Report and the Leapfrog Group. For more information, visit www.childrensnational.org . Children's Research Institute, the academic arm of Children's National Medical Center, encompasses the translational, clinical, and community research efforts of the institution. Learn more about our research programs at www.childrensnational.org/research .