Nutrition and Exercise Research Week focuses on fight against obesity
by Jeremy Elson, posted April 1, 2008
MU students, teachers, and the local community gathered throughout the afternoon on March 18 in Memorial Union on campus for the Nutrition and Exercise Research Week Poster Session. The event showcased 40 posters by various students, faculty, and/or post doctorate graduates. The participants used the posters to explain the results of research they had done to combat the estimated one trillion dollars being spent by Americans on health concerns related to obesity.
Each poster explained different aspects of nutrition — from the specifics of cell function to a more common language the average citizen could comprehend. Spectators walked freely through the event stopping at posters as they pleased to read and ask the different presenters any questions they had.
Many students were surprised at results some of the posters displayed.
“I always knew that exercise was important in order to be healthy but I never knew the immediate affects in just reducing walking,” said Elena Kopeikin a biochemistry major.
Kopeikin had just read a poster by Frank W. Booth whose information displayed the dramatic results of eliminating walking from a group of normal, physically fit students. In just two weeks, the chemical levels in the body had changed dramatically making the person much more vulnerable to diseases such as diabetes.
The overall goal of the poster session was to spread information about nutrition and exercise. If you were unable to attend the poster session, you can learn more about improving your health at MissouriFamilies.org.
