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DATE:  4-14-05

CONTACT:  Marge Condrasky 864-656-6554 mcondra@clemson.edu

CLEMSON, USC, MUSC, SCRA WORKING
TO FIGHT CHILDHOOD OBESITY

CLEMSON -- South Carolina has a problem: too many kids are overweight.

Clemson University, along with the University of South Carolina, Medical University of South Carolina and South Carolina Research Authority, are combining efforts for PALMETTO, a statewide program to reduce childhood obesity and improve South Carolinians' health and nutrition.

"Health disparities are a huge problem in South Carolina, which is why we rank among the highest in some incidences of chronic diseases," said Rob Davis, vice president of technology and development for SCRA. "One in five children in South Carolina are overweight or obese."

PALMETTO, which stands for Pediatric and Adolescent Long-term Monitoring and Evaluation To Track Obesity, will use a comprehensive method of determining lifestyle, socioeconomic, biological and other factors contributing to childhood obesity to confront the problem.

PALMETTO is unique. No other state has attempted to launch a program of this caliber and magnitude to determine a route of improvement and identify specific factors linked to childhood obesity.

Marge Condrasky, assistant professor in food science and human nutrition at Clemson, is helping to lead a diet subgroup.

"Several Clemson faculty members are leading and serving on research teams that are developing the study protocol for the effort," said Davis. "Members are using their expertise to determine the best measurements to identify the factors that contribute to childhood obesity."

SCRA is seeking funding to support the program for the first few years of planning and design. Once this is available, the program will be ready to be launched, said Davis.