Media Advisory

Suffolk County High School Students “Step Up To the Plate” to Fight Obesity and Promote Wellness

Patchogue , NY -- The Suffolk County Department of Health Services Division of Preventive Medicine and Eastern Suffolk BOCES Student Assistance Service will host the annual high school conference at St. Joseph’s College in Patchogue next week. This year’s youth conference addresses nutrition and wellness, with an emphasis on obesity.

This conference is part of a comprehensive health education program provided each school year by the Division of Preventive Medicine to Suffolk County Schools. The program, called HealthSmart, provides curriculum and teacher training and addresses high risk behaviors in children, including poor nutrition, lack of physical activity, tobacco us, other drug and alcohol use and injuries.

“Last year we created the Division of Preventive Medicine in an effort to promote overall health and wellness to SuffolkCounty residents,” said County Executive Steve Levy. “This year we have asked the new division to focus on one of the greatest barriers to wellness: obesity, which often begins in childhood. The advantage to addressing obesity in childhood is that doing so not only builds healthier adults but also reduces the number of unhealthy adults visiting emergency rooms and overburdening the taxpayer.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), obesity rates have doubled in children and tripled in teens over the last two decades. Acting Suffolk County Commissioner of Health Linda Mermelstein, MD, MPH, said, “Obese young people are more likely than children of normal weight to become overweight or obese adults. That puts them at greater risk for associated adult health problems, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, several types of cancer, and osteoarthritis. In addition, children who are obese are at greater risk for social and psychological problems such as stigmatization and poor self-esteem. ”

The youth empowerment conference entitled “Step up To the Plate” provides high school students with the tools to combat this unhealthy trend.  The keynote speaker is Leslie Lipton who will discuss the dangers of disordered eating behaviors. Students will attend workshops that address the dangers of energy drinks, steps to healthier nutrition, media influence on food choices, yoga, stress reduction and the harmful effects of newly emerging tobacco products. There will be a presentation by a cancer survivor who underwent a laryngectomy, and Creative Ministries will perform Butt Out, a musical revue about the harmful effects of tobacco.

What:                         Youth Empowerment Conference

Suffolk County High School Students “Step Up To the Plate”

When:                        December 18, 2009, 8:15 a.m. -- 1:15 p.m.

Where:                      St.JosephsCollege, Patchogue