The Boshell Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases Research Program hosted its third annual Research Day Friday at the Auburn University Hotel and Dixon Conference Center. "It's America's weapons of mass destruction," said Dr. Michael Quon of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. This was in reference to America's fixation with restaurant eating "that leads to overeating." The event drew researchers, students, faculty and supply vendors to Auburn for a chance to address the growing incidence of diabetes and obesity in the Southeast.
Quon delivered the keynote lecture. The bulk of his lecture was geared toward the researchers present in the audience. However, he offered insight into America's ugly eating habits. Dr. Robert Judd of the College of Veterinary Medicine and organizer of the research day emphasized the importance of obesity and its relation to diabetes. "Seventy percent of Alabamians are obese or overweight," Judd said. "This is a crisis." While many presenters focused on dietary decisions to curb obesity and reduce the risk of diabetes, others spoke about the rate of diabetes in household pets.
"Our pets are eating and getting overweight right along with us," said Emily Graff, a graduate assistant to Judd. "It's usually pretty likely that if our animals are fat, we're fat, too." Judd discussed the eating habits of Western culture and explored why these habits have a negative effect on peoples' health. "Wherever the Western diet has been introduced, that place becomes overweight," Judd said. Judd continued by explaining Alabama is in the process of investigating initiatives to attack obesity. Attendees at the event encouraged students to change their habits, particularly through exercise.
"I think the University does what they can in terms of providing facilities, but eventually the burden falls on the students to get their needed exercise," said Graham McGinnis, a graduate student in cardiac protection. McGinnis works under the supervision of Dr. John Quindry of the Department of Kinesiology. Quindry said heart attacks are bad, but exercise is beneficial. Though this statement appears to be obvious, the problems of obesity and diabetes are not so easily solved. Nevertheless, attendees of the event were optimistic that their work will lead to productive change.
"Auburn is working hard to be at the table on all the important discussions about these issues," Judd said In much the same way as the Universities Fighting World Hunger program, he sees Auburn becoming a lead university for a nationwide program working to solve the diabetes crisis. Kristen De La Fuente of Fisher Scientific also emphasized the importance of research for universities to tackle diabetes and obesity. "Many think it's football, but it's really the researchers who keep this place running," De La Fuente said.
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