ECO 2008 addressing latest obesity prevention methods

Around 2500 international food and health experts will gather in Geneva this week for Europe's premier obesity conference, the 16th European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2008), to assess the latest research from basic science to practical prevention programs and medical treatment.

With delegates from 80 countries viewing almost 1000 abstracts and 100 speakers, the conference will discuss the latest advances in research on the causes of obesity. It will cover the influence of genes and environment, factors affecting metabolism, childhood obesity, the psychological and motivational aspects of weight regulation, latest trends in epidemiology, exercise and diet science, public health policies, drugs, surgery and other treatment approaches.

Experts will debate controversial issues including childhood obesity, marketing to children, the role of genetics versus the environment and how to define metabolic risk clusters. The International Obesity TaskForce will also be convening a special symposium highlighting the latest major global issues in obesity prevention.

For more information, visit www.eco2008.org.