Columbia U Hosts Childhood Obesity Forum In Harrison

From Columbia University Irving Medical Center: Wednesday, Columbia University Irving Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital hosted an engaging Q&A discussion with leading Columbia specialists on need-to-know information for parents, pediatricians, and dietitians on childhood obesity and nutrition. Led by CBS News medical reporter Max Gomez, the conversation covered:

· Best practices for dietitians on speaking about obesity with patients and their families

· The effects of diet, exercise, screen time, sleep, and other lifestyle factors on a child’s susceptibility to obesity

· Best treatment options for children who are overweight or suffer from obesity and the importance of factoring in socioeconomic and other cultural factors into a given individual’s treatment plan

This is the second event part of Columbia’s Westchester Forum series, where each quarter, Columbia hosts a forum discussion in an effort to educate the community on different topics around children’s health. The event took place from 11:15am - 1:15pm at the Renaissance Westchester Hotel in West Harrison, NY. Attendees enjoyed lunch followed by discussion, with an opportunity to pose questions to the speakers. Speakers included Columbia University specialists, Dr. Jennifer Woo Baidal, Director of Pediatric Weight Management in Peds GI, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Dr. Elena Ladas, Director of the Integrative Therapies Program, Dr. Jeff Zitsman, Director of the Center for Adolescent Bariatric Surgery, and Dr. Ilene Fennoy, Medical Director of the Comprehensive Adolescent Bariatric Surgery Program.

Consistently ranked among the top hospitals in the country for the treatment of childhood digestive disorders, Columbia University Department of Pediatrics’ Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition provides comprehensive care for a broad range of gastrointestinal, nutritional, and liver disorders. Through exceptional treatment and groundbreaking scientific discovery, the Division’s team of medical professionals delivers life-changing outcomes. Headquartered at NewYork-Presbyterian’s Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital in Washington Heights, Columbia’s specialists see patients at a number of locations throughout Manhattan, Westchester and Rockland counties, New Jersey, Long Island, and Stamford, Connecticut.