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Program on America's epidemics of childhood obesity, mental illness draw experts to National Press Club for forum
January 21, 2011
Dr. Russ Pate spoke at the National Press
Club on Jan. 20 for a program on
childhood obesity and mental health.
Arnold School of Public Health exercise physiologist Dr. Russ Pate joined leading health and medical experts from throughout the United States at the National Press Club on Thursday (Jan. 20) for a panel discussion on solving America's epidemics of child obesity and mental illness.
Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Richard Carmona gave opening remarks at the gathering sponsored by Arizona State University (ASU), where former Arnold School researcher Dr. Barbara Ainsworth is on the faculty.
Obesity and compromised mental health were issues that inspired the conference, said ASU officials, noting that nearly one-third of American children are overweight and more than half of this group is obese.
"In addition to the increased physical diseases associated with being overweight, these children and adolescents suffer from a higher prevalence of psychological problems resulting in poor academic performance, low self-esteem, depressive disorders, and more suicide attempts," ASU officials said.
More than 200 media representatives and healthcare and community leaders attended the event, said Pate, an internationally recognized expert on physical activity and fitness in children and the health implications of physical inactivity.
"There was a heavy emphasis on the idea that we need to do a better job with prevention," said Pate, who discussed the National Physical Activity Plan for which he led the coordinating committee.
'We know there is room for us to do much better through our healthcare delivery system," he said. "Access to care is a problem for many children who are confronting mental health problems or who are overweight or obese. Our system doesn't deal well with these two issues."
Pate has published more than 230 scholarly papers and has authored or edited three books. His research has been supported by the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Heart Association, and several private foundations and corporations.
- Deborah Kotz, senior health reporter for The Boston Globe, moderated the panel that, in addition to Pate, included:
- Dr. Kyu Rhee, chief public health officer, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- Dr. Peter S. Jensen, president of the REACH Institute and professor of psychiatry at the Mayo Clinic.
- Dr. Bernadette Melnyk, dean of the ASU College of Nursing and Health Innovation.
- Marie Morilus-Black, director of the DC Department of Mental Health: Children/Youth Services.
- Joanne Kenen, founding editor, New Health Dialogue blog, New America Foundation.
- Madelyn Clark – youth advisor, Alliance for a Healthier Generation.
The forum is one of a series sponsored by ASU on key challenges facing the nation.
