U.S. News to Convene National Childhood Obesity Summit at Texas Children's Hospital

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- This spring, U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in health care rankings, will convene a Combating Childhood Obesity summit featuring some of the nation's leading experts who are actively working to address this public health threat, which currently affects 1 in 5 children and adolescents in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The daylong conference, taking place May 16, 2019, is made possible by the support of Texas Children's Hospital, a national leader among U.S. pediatric hospitals, and will be held at its Main Campus in the Texas Medical Center in Houston. The program will bring together top medical experts, hospital executives, pediatricians, community health leaders, advocates and other key stakeholders to exchange ideas and share practices that are helping to combat this nationwide epidemic.

Keynote Speakers include:

• George Bray, M.D., Boyd Professor Emeritus, Pennington Biomedical Research Center,  Louisiana State University
• William Dietz, M.D., Ph.D., Director, Sumner M. Redstone Global Center for Prevention and Wellness, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University

Additional Speakers include:

• Thomas Baranowski, Ph.D., Professor of Pediatrics, Nutrition, Baylor College of Medicine; Editor in Chief, "Childhood Obesity"
• Hank Cardello, Director, Food Policy Center, Hudson Institute
• Christina Economos, Ph.D., Professor and New Balance Chair in Childhood Nutrition, Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy
• Thomas Inge, M.D., Ph.D., Director of Adolescent Bariatric Surgery, Children's Hospital Colorado
• David Ludwig, M.D., Ph.D., Co-Director of the New Balance Foundation Obesity Prevention Center, Boston Children's Hospital
• Barry M. Popkin, Ph.D., W.R. Kenan Jr. Distinguished Professor of Nutrition, Adjunct Professor of Economics, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health
• Nancy Roman, President and CEO, Partnership for a Healthier America
• Michael Rosenbaum, M.D., Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine; Director of the FIT Program for Pediatric Obesity, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
• Elsie M. Taveras, M.D., MPH, Chief, Division of General Academic Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital
• Sharonda Alston Taylor, M.D., Medical Director, Teens Working on Wellness Adolescent Weight Management Clinic, Texas Children's Hospital
• Denise Wilfley, Ph.D., Director, Center for Healthy Weight and Wellness, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
• Deborah Young, Ph.D., Director of Behavioral Research, Department of Research and Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California

Sessions will feature panel discussions, debates and one-on-one conversations on:

• Where is the Obesity Research Leading?
• Treatment Interventions That Work – And That Don't.
• Partnering For Prevention: Bringing the Battle to the Community.
• Turning the Tide in an Obesogenic Food Environment.
• Policy Prescription: What Are the Next Steps?

"For nearly 30 years, U.S. News has reported on the biggest health care challenges facing this country," said Brian Kelly, editor and chief content officer of U.S. News. "Our work with Texas Children's Hospital furthers this mission by providing an open forum for health care leaders to share key insights and new research on tackling a problem plaguing many communities and families."

"Texas Children's Hospital is pleased to host this U.S. News National Childhood Obesity Summit, bringing together thought leaders from across the nation," Dr. Mark Kline, physician-in-chief of Texas Children's Hospital said.  "There is not another issue that will have a greater impact than obesity on the health of children and adults over the decades to come. The time is now to come together to address its prevention and management."

Registrants in town the evening before are invited to attend a networking reception with speakers and other VIPS:

Welcome Reception
Wednesday, May 15, 2019
5 – 7 p.m. central
Houston Marriott Medical Center/Museum District
6580 Fannin Street, Houston, Texas
Sponsored by: EYP

Event Details:

Combating Childhood Obesity Summit
Thursday, May 16, 2019
8 a.m. – 4 p.m. central
Texas Children's Hospital
Lester and Sue Smith Legacy Tower
6621 Main Street, Houston, Texas

Seating is limited. For more information about this conference, register here.

About U.S. News & World Report

For 30 years, the industry-leading U.S. News & World Report's Best Hospitals rankings have guided patients looking for the best complex, high acuity care. U.S. News has expanded on health advice and analysis over the last decade with data-driven rankings, ratings and news for Children's Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Health Plans, Diets and Doctors. More than 60MM consumers and patients interact with U.S. News health rankings, analysis and consumer advice content each year, helping them make more informed health care decisions. U.S. News also offers high-level performance assessment and peer benchmarking tools for hospital and healthcare professionals and hosts the annual Healthcare of Tomorrow National Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. For more information regarding U.S. News' Health offerings please visit health.usnews.com.

About Texas Children's Hospital

Texas Children's Hospital, a not-for-profit health care organization, is committed to creating a healthier future for children and women throughout the global community by leading in patient care, education and research. Consistently ranked as the best children's hospital in Texas, and among the top in the nation, Texas Children's has garnered widespread recognition for its expertise and breakthroughs in pediatric and women's health. The hospital includes the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute; the Feigin Tower for pediatric research; Texas Children's Pavilion for Women, a comprehensive obstetrics/gynecology facility focusing on high-risk births; Texas Children's Hospital West Campus, a community hospital in suburban West Houston; and Texas Children's Hospital The Woodlands, the first hospital devoted to children's care for communities north of Houston. The organization also created Texas Children's Health Plan, the nation's first HMO for children; Texas Children's Pediatrics, the largest pediatric primary care network in the country; Texas Children's Urgent Care clinics that specialize in after-hours care tailored specifically for children; and a global health program that's channeling care to children and women all over the world. Texas Children's Hospital is affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine. For more information, go to www.texaschildrens.org. Get the latest news by visiting the online newsroom and Twitter at twitter.com/texaschildrens.

SOURCE U.S. News & World Report

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