February 7, 2002 – Université Laval and the Institute for the Advancement of an Integral Approach to Health (IAAIS) announced the creation of the Center for the Prevention of Obesity.
Located at Laval Hospital in Quebec City, the Center will bring together a multidisciplinary team (cardiology, kinesiology, medicine and nutrition) made up of specialists from the DB Brown Obesity Research Chair at Laval University.1, the Laval Hospital Research Center and certain laboratories of the Institute of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods (INAF).
Its mission will include three essential axes:
- set up prevention programs for people at risk;
- conduct research on the bio-psycho-social causes of obesity, on nutritional products and nutraceuticals as well as alternative and complementary prevention approaches;
- set up information programs to disseminate research results.
The Center will have its work cut out for it since the data on obesity have been rather alarming in recent years. In Quebec, 40% of the population are affected by excess weight and obesity. In Canada, obesity (not counting overweight) among children has increased by 2.5 in the past 15 years2. These percentages clearly reveal the extent of the problem, especially since they are steadily increasing.
With its DB Brown Obesity Research Chair, Laval University is already recognized around the world for the quality of its fundamental research work in obesity. The financial contribution of at least $ 4 million from the Institute for the Advancement of an Integral Approach to Health (IAAIS), created and funded by the Lucie and André Chagnon Foundation, will consolidate its innovative position and improve inform the population.
Élisabeth Mercader – PasseportSanté.net
1. DB Brown Obesity Research Chair. [Consulté le 5 février 2002]. http://www.obesity.chair.ulaval.ca/
2.National Post. Obesity among “tweens” more than doubles / Nine-to-12 age group. [Consulté le 6 février 2002]. http://www.nationalpost.com
