Despite knowing that they should eat well and exercise, a growing number of Americans are gaining weight and getting out of shape. For a country that supports entire industries based on fat-free and low-fat foods, health club memberships, fad diets, and exercise tapes, the US should theoretically not be struggling with an obesity epidemic. What’s the problem?

Nutrition specialists will gather at HSPH to discuss "America’s Food Environment: The New Health Hazard?" on Friday, October 18 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in Snyder Auditorium. This is the first in a series of forums sponsored by the Office of Communications looking at topical public health issues in the news.

Scheduled speakers at the October 18th forum include Eric Rimm, an associate professor in the Departments of Epidemiology and Nutrition, who will moderate; Walter Willett, chair of the Department of Nutrition and author of Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy, who will discuss his concerns about the traditional food pyramid and possible explanations for the obesity epidemic in America; Steven Gortmaker, a professor in the Department of Health and Social Behavior, who will look at the role of television in marketing junk food to kids; Ann Rusniak, corporate nutritionist for the McDonald’s Corporation, who will discuss the nutritional considerations that go into making McDonald’s food and the recent news about moving towards the elimination of trans fatty acids from McDonald’s cooking oils; and Gregory Miller, senior vice president of nutrition and scientific affairs for the National Dairy Council, who will talk about the "Got Milk" advertising campaign and how dairy products can be incorporated into a healthy diet.

The forum is free and is open to the public. Check HSPH’s web site www.hsph.harvard.edu in the future for details about a webcast of the event.