Canadian Obesity Network: 2nd National Obesity Summit Kicks Off Today!

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MONTRÉAL, QUÉBEC--(Marketwire - April 28, 2011) - Canada's only multidisciplinary scientific conference dedicated to the prevention and treatment of obesity gets underway tonight at 6:00 pm EST at Le Centre Sheraton Hotel.

Minister of Health and Social Services for Québec, Dr. Yves Bolduc, will make opening remarks and officially welcome more than 650 delegates, some from as far away as China, South Africa, and Australia, to the 2nd National Obesity Summit. The biennial event is produced by the Canadian Obesity Network- Réseau canadien en obésité (CON-RCO), a national organization that links the research, policy and health practice communities to advance the development and delivery of effective obesity prevention and treatment solutions.

A keynote address by the 2011 recipient of the CON-RCO Distinguished Lecturer Award, presented in recognition of outstanding contributions to the obesity research community in Canada, will follow.

The 2nd National Obesity Summit features more than 80 oral presentations, 200 poster presentations and 30-plus workshops aimed at a diverse audience of health professionals, researchers, students, trainees and policy makers. Presenters will focus on the latest thinking across a wide array of health and social sciences disciplines, including genetics, psychology, economics, surgery, health policy, socio-cultural determinants of health, nutrition and more. The event runs from April 28 to May 1, 2011.

Four of Canada's most vocal obesity advocates and experts have been enlisted to provide commentary on key presentations throughout the Summit, via their widely read blogs and Twitter feeds:

Dr. Sharma's Obesity Notes: www.drsharma.ca

Twitter: @DrSharma #CON11

A daily digest of the latest in obesity research and practice. Dr. Arya M. Sharma is Professor of Medicine and Chair in Obesity Research and Management at the University of Alberta, the Medical Director of Alberta Health Services Edmonton Region's interdisciplinary Weight Wise Program and Scientific Director of the Canadian Obesity Network.

Weighty Matters: www.weightymatters.ca

Twitter:@YoniFreedhoff#CON11

Outspoken obesity advocate Dr. Yoni Freedhoff's often provocative take on health, weight loss and life in general. Dr. Freedhoff is the founder and Medical Director of the Bariatric Medical Institute in Ottawa, a multi-disciplinary behavioural weight manage­ment program.

Obesity Panacea: www.blogs.plos.org/obesitypanacea

Twitter:@dr_janis @TravisSaunders #CON11

Obesity Panacea examines the latest news and research in the fields of obesity, nutrition and physical activity. It is written by Dr. Peter Janiszewski and Travis Saunders, both active researchers studying the relationships between obesity, exercise, and health.

Contact Information:

Media accreditation and interviews
with select presenters and
Canadian Obesity Network members can be arranged through:
www.obesitynetwork.ca

Canadian Obesity Network
Brad Hussey
Communications Director
905-628-7778 (EST)
hussey@obesitynetwork.ca

Pour l'accreditation des medias et les demandes d'entrevue
avec des presentateurs et des membres du Reseau
canadien en obesite, communiquez avec :
Amelie Desrosiers
+1-514-475-7431 (EST)
adesrosiers@cqpp.qc.ca