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Obesity conference leaves a lasting legacy in NewcastleGateshead with public engagement event

The Association for the Study of Obesity (ASO) has announced that it will host a public engagement event in partnership with Café Culture, as part of its wider programme during the 5th UK Congress on Obesity (UKCO), which takes place on 6 – 7 September at Newcastle University.

 

The free, public event, ‘Obesity and Cancer: The Unspoken Link’ will take place before the main conference programme begins at Newcastle’s Brunswick Centre on Tuesday 4 September, 5:30 – 8pm. The event provides an exciting space for public discussion about the links between obesity and cancer. There will also be the opportunity for attendees to find out about the work going on in North East England to reduce growing obesity trends and the related research being conducted in this field at the region’s five universities.

 

Prof Annie Anderson of the University of Dundee, who is also speaking as part of the main conference programme, will share important research with the public showing how weight management can influence cancer risk.

 

The event will also feature representatives from the ASO, Cancer UK, the Obesity Empowerment Network, Newcastle City Council and Fuse, the Centre for Translational Research in Public Health, which brings together the five North East universities of Durham, Newcastle, Northumbria, Sunderland and Teesside in a unique collaboration to deliver robust research to improve health and wellbeing and tackle inequalities.

 

Paul Szomoru, Director of Business Events at NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau, said: “The local organising committee of the UKCO was keen to maximise the impact of this event and to leave a lasting legacy in the North East. We are very pleased that some of UK’s leading obesity researchers will therefore engage with the local population to talk about the huge impact that weight management can have on cancer risk.

 

“Obesity presents such a challenge, but life-changing work is happening here in our city to tackle this issue. The event is the perfect opportunity to share this knowledge outside of the academic setting, and hopefully make an impact on those who come along to participate.”

 

Dr Nicola Heslehurst, Lecturer at Newcastle University and leader of the UKCO Local Organising Committee, said: “Hosting the UK Congress on Obesity means that we are bringing together experts from across the world to share important research about obesity here in NewcastleGateshead. We felt it was important to use the opportunity while so many renowned experts in this field are here for the conference to do something for the benefit of the people of the North East. The public engagement event is a chance for people to come along and hear more about an important, but less well known, issue relating to obesity. They can also learn about some of the exciting research that’s underway and activities taking place in the city.”

 

Café Culture offers a well-established programme of events that welcome participants to café-style, thoughtful public discussions on culture, politics, philosophy and science. The events aim to generate discussion and debate in an inclusive, welcoming setting. Events are open to all, with no need to book.