Investigators Present Research Findings at the Obesity Society

Fall 2016

 

STRIDE researchers and staff at the Obesity Week Conference in New Orleans.

 

Researchers from Cal Poly presented at the Obesity Conference in New Orleans, an international gathering that focuses on updating, investigating and better understanding the burden of the growing obesity disease pandemic.

Alison Ventura, a professor of kinesiology and STRIDE research co-investigator, and Kari Pillola, a professor of food science and nutrition, won a Research in Diverse Populations Award for their poster presentation, "A pilot study to explore correlates of authoritative and indulgent feeding practices in Hispanic vs. white families of 2-6-year-old children." Judges looked at 150 abstracts and gave this award to the top 10 abstracts that studied diverse populations.

Ventura presented another poster titled "Mothers’ use of food to soothe during milk feeding is associated with feeding mode and maternal and infant characteristics."

Fit Moms/Mamas Activas investigators Phelan, Schaffner, Mercado, Legato, Brannen, Muñoz-Christian and Sanchez also presented work showing that an internet-based weight control program promoted significant long-term weight loss in 374 low-income postpartum mothers in the Women, Infants, and Children program in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. Also, a poster presentation from the group reported that higher acculturation, i.e., greater adoption of American culture, among Latina postpartum moms was related to higher postpartum weight retention and unhealthy eating patterns.