Archive: UCSF Experts Featured in Sunday Magazine

UCSF nutrition, pediatrics and endocrinology experts are featured in a special magazine supplement to be distributed in the home delivery edition of the New York Times on Sunday, Jan. 15. The magazine, "Childhood Obesity," is the product of a unique collaboration among UCSF, Kaiser Permanente and UCLA and is aimed at educating the public about the emerging crisis of obesity - and giving people specific things they can do about it. Obesity frequently begins in childhood, and obesity rates among California children are alarmingly high: More than one of every four children in grades 5, 7 and 9 are overweight or obese, according to a recent study. That's 9 million obese children at risk for more serious health risks as they grow into adulthood. Featured in the publication are:
  • • Robert Baron, director of the UCSF Adult Weight Management Program,
  • • Andrea Garber, coordinator of the UCSF Children's Hospital WATCH clinic,
  • • Stephen Gitelman, director of the pediatric diabetes clinic
  • • Melvin Heyman, chief of pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition,
  • • School of Medicine Dean David Kessler,
  • • Robert Lustig, director of the Weight Assessment for Teen and Child Health (WATCH) clinic at UCSF Children's Hospital,
  • • Laurel Mellin, associate clinical professor of Family and Community Medicine,
  • • Colette O'Brien, nurse practitioner in the pediatric diabetes clinic
"Smoking is still the No. 1 preventable cause of death in the United States, but obesity is not far behind," says Kessler. "If you look at the range of medical conditions that obesity affects, it is truly astonishing - diabetes, elevated cholesterol, high blood pressure, stroke, gallbladder disease, asthma, osteoarthritis, and many cancers." The publication, which will reach more than 150,000 homes in California, includes articles about nutrition education, ways for families to increase physical activity, and a discussion on the policy and research needed to stem the rising numbers of obese children in our communities. Members of the UCSF community who want a free copy of the magazine may call the School of Medicine Dean's Office at 415/476-2342 or email. Requests for larger quantities for distribution to patients or members of the community are also welcome. Source: Doug Levy