Experts to discuss effects, prevention in an online forum

November 10, 2004 It's hard to miss the headlines: obesity and overweight among American children are skyrocketing, bringing increased risk of diabetes, sleep apnea, asthma and other ills. And overweight kids are more likely to become overweight teens and adults. But restricting what children eat also presents dangers. What can parents and caregivers do in the earliest years —birth to age six—to keep kids leaner and healthier, and to help overweight children?

In the latest edition of Connect for Kids' TalkTime Live! series, Connect for Kids Executive Editor Susan Phillips will be joined by two experts in the field. Irene Chatoor, MD, an early childhood expert from the Children's National Medical Center, will be taking questions. Marlene Schwartz, Ph.D., a Yale obesity and overweight researcher, will also be joining the conversation live from the annual North American Association for the Study of Obesity conference.

Parents, policymakers and anyone else concerned about the issue are encouraged to send advance questions and comments for the experts to rob@connectforkids.org. Those who can log on during the live chat will also be able to submit questions.

TalkTime Live! is a bimonthly online discussion series for expert panelists, concerned parents, educators, advocates and policymakers. Previous TalkTime Live! topics have included finding funding for nonprofits, recruiting and retaining foster parents, and books for teens.

What: TalkTime Live! online discussion —a dialogue on youth obesity issues

Who: Irene Chatoor, MD, Children's National Medical Center
Marlene Schwartz, Ph.D, Yale Center for Eating and Weight Disorders
Susan Phillips, Executive Editor, Connect for Kids

When: Wednesday, November 17, 2004
1:00 p.m.—2:00 p.m. ET

Where: http://www.connectforkids.org.
Transcripts of the discussions are available online.

Connect for Kids makes the best use of communications technologies, specifically the Internet, to give adults—parents, grandparents, guardians, educators, advocates, policymakers, elected officials and others—the tools and information they need to improve the lives of children, youth and families. The Connect for Kids Web site covers more than 30 topics ranging from arts to youth development, foster care to adoption, and welfare reform to oral health.