Childhood obesity topic of Sage lecture

TROY >> Marlene Schwartz, director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity and a professor of human development and family studies at the University of Connecticut, will explain why food companies play a major role in the nation’s childhood obesity problem as guest speaker for The Sage College’s 2017 Nutrition Lecture at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 28, in Bush Memorial Center on the Russell Sage College campus.

According to the American Heart Association, childhood obesity has tripled since the 1970s, with one in three American children or teens considered overweight or obese today. Schwartz’s research and community service address how home environments, school landscapes, neighborhoods and the media shape the eating attitudes and behaviors of children.

“Knowledge is power,” Schwartz said in a news release annoucing the lecture. “If we are truly going to tackle the childhood obesity crisis in America, we need to talk about the way food companies are manipulating children – in the lunchroom, the grocery aisle, and through social media.”

Schwartz, who served as co- director of the Yale Center for Eating and Weight Disorders before joining the Rudd Center, has collaborated with the Connecticut Department of Education to evaluate nutrition and physical activity policies in schools and preschools throughout the state. She cochaired the Connecticut Obesity Task Force, has provided expert testimony on obesityrelated state policies and serves on the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Food Bank.

“I’m looking forward to sharing my research with Sage students, especially those studying nutrition, and talking about how to create a healthier environment for kids,” Schwartz said.

The Sage Colleges currently offer nutrition programs at the undergraduate, graduate and advanced certificate level, with many students from these programs participating in the discussion, which is held each year during National Nutrition Month.

The lecture is free and open to the public. For reservations or more information, call 244- 3178 or email events@sage.edu.