Weighty Matters: Louisiana's Obesity Problem (2012)
Louisiana Public Square
Details
Collection:LPB
Genre: Panel
Place Covered: Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana
Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority
Date Issued: 2012-02-22
Duration: 00:56:55
Subjects: Filmed panel discussions | Health | Obesity | Weight loss
Contributors:
- Sanford, Shauna Host
- Gautreaux, Kevin Producer
- Pitcher, Arlene Interviewee
- Piglia, Susan Interviewee
- Gordon, Stewart Interviewee
- Heymsfield, Steven Interviewee
- Guidry, Jimmy Interviewee
- Champagne, Catherine Interviewee
- Hammet, Tara Speaker
- Yowell, Kristy Speaker
- Fagan, Susan Speaker
- Wales, June Speaker
- Campbell, Marcia Speaker
- Odom, Charlotte Speaker
- Chaussey, Beverly Speaker
- Williams, Ray, Sr. Speaker
- Gauthreaux, Joseph Speaker
- Moulder, Robin Speaker
- Barron, Al Speaker
- Mohanty, Rama Speaker
- Dewey, Linda Speaker
- Jackson, Ava Speaker
- Greenstein, Bruce Panelist
- Elkind-Hirsch, Karen Panelist
- Katzmarzyk, Peter Panelist
- Phenow, Kenneth Panelist
Description
This episode of the series “Louisiana Public Square” from February 22, 2012, features Shauna Sanford leading a discussion between the audience members and panelists on obesity in Louisiana. A background report on the topic precedes the discussion. It includes interviews with: Arlene Pitcher, Ochsner employee; Susan Piglia, the director of corporate programs at Ochsner; Dr. Stewart Gordon, the chairman of the Louisiana Council on Obesity Prevention; Dr. Steven Heymsfield, the executive director of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge; Dr. Jimmy Guidry, the state health officer with the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals; and Dr. Catherine Champagne of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center. The audience members then discuss: whether obesity is a public health or personal responsibility issue; the need for more nutritional education; and taxing junk food. A panel of experts then joins the audience to answer their questions. The panelists are: Secretary Bruce Greenstein of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals; Dr. Karen Elkind-Hirsch, the scientific director of the Woman’s Metabolic Health Center at Woman’s Hospital in Baton Rouge; Dr. Peter Katzmarzyk, the associate executive director for population science at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center; and Dr. Kenneth Phenow, the chief medical officer for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana. They discuss: their views on taxing junk food; the importance of nutritional education; decreasing portion sizes and increasing physical activity for weight loss and management; the steps being taken to combat the state’s high obesity rate; the impact of a mother’s health on her baby; employer wellness programs; the definition of obesity; and the evolving research on the diseases linked to obesity.