Nutrition Expert, OWU Alumna Addresses Obesity Epidemic for SNC

September 16, 2003

DELAWARE, OHIO -- Dr. Karyl Thomas Rattay, expert on nutrition, physical activity, and their related health conditions, especially obesity and diabetes, will lecture as part of the Sagan National Colloquium public affairs series at Ohio Wesleyan University on Wednesday, Sept. 17, at 7:30 p.m. in OWU's Hamilton-Williams Campus Center Benes Room. Dr. Rattay will speak about "The Obesity Epidemic: The Federal Government Response," which relates to this year's Colloquium theme on "Food: A Harvest of History, Culture, Politics, and Science." A 1987 OWU graduate, Dr. Rattay will examine federal nutrition policy, including revisions to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the Food Guide Pyramid.

A practicing pediatrician for eight years with a master's degree in epidemiology, Dr. Rattay is one of the contributing authors of the Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity, released in December 2002.

Dr. Rattay has been given a leading role in the implementation of President Bush's "HealthierUS" Initiative and the Secretary's Prevention Initiative, "Steps to a HealthierUS." Both of these initiatives focus on nutrition, physical activity, and related diseases. She is also working on the revision of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which is the cornerstone of federal nutrition policy.

The Sagan National Colloquium is in its 18th year at Ohio Wesleyan. All lectures are free and open to the public. More information is available at snc.owu.edu or 740-368-3995.