Posted - March 7, 2011

Childhood Obesity Topic of Eureka College Lecture

Clarenence R. Noe Dean's Lecture Series

Eureka College associate professor of physical education Karen Sweitzer will present "What's the Deal?  Childhood Obesity Rises as Youth Sport Participation Reaches All-Time High” at 7:30 p.m. April 7 in the Cerf Center at Eureka College.  A reception will follow.

The free, public presentation will discuss theories that explore how an increase in sports participation has paralleled a rise in childhood and adolescent obesity during the past 30 years. 

“The importance of this subject cannot be overstated,” Sweitzer said. “Latest estimates show that nearly one-third of U.S. children and adolescents are overweight or obese.”

Sweitzer joined the Eureka College faculty in 1990. She headed the softball program for 18 years, was assistant women's basketball coach and senior woman administrator for athletics.  She also was chairwoman of the Education Department.  She received the Helen Cleaver Distinguished Teaching Award in 1996. 

Sweitzer is a long-time member of the American College of Sports Medicine, an organization for professionals in the field of exercise science. She received a bachelor’s degree from MacMurray College and a master’s degree from Southern Illinois University. She taught and coached at MacMurray College from 1985 to 1990.

The presentation marks the final Clarence R. Noe Dean’s Lectures by Eureka College faculty members this academic year. For more information, call the provost’s office at (309) 467-6301.

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Contact:

Michele Lehman

Media Relations Coordinator

mlehman@eureka.edu

(309) 467-6318