Professor Philip Morgan will use a public seminar during Hunter Medical Research Week to give the community a taste of two health programs for families he describes as “life-changing”.
Professor Morgan from The Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition at the University of Newcastle will be one of three researchers delivering talks in their area of expertise during a free seminar at the Hunter Medical Research Institute building on June 2.
Professor Morgan’s highly successful obesity prevention program Healthy Dads, Healthy Kids received recognition from the World Health Organisation for promoting health and well-being in the community.
The program has just been rolled out in the United Kingdom.
“Obesity is a multi-faceted problem,” Professor Morgan said. “Will a sugar tax solve it on its own? No. Will a community program solve it on its own? No. But will all of those components working together turn the tide? Yes they will. Is education an important part of it? Absolutely.
“Members of the community have got to be skilled, knowledgeable and motivated and these programs help to motivate, educate and inspire.”
It is the findings from a new research program, Dads And Daughters Exercising and Empowered (DADEE), that has Morgan excited by the potential outcomes.
DADEE aims to engage fathers to help instil primary school-aged girls with the physical and socio-emotional skills needed for a healthy life.
The father of three daughters predicted DADEE will be “ground-breaking”.
“We’ve run DADEE four times at the university and the results have been amazing for both fathers and daughters and I would like to share a bit of the magic to people at the HMRI talk.’’ Professor Morgan said.
Professor Morgan’s work in physical activity and obesity prevention has earned him the privilege of being a keynote speaker at the International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Education in Cape Town, South Africa from June 8-11.
The other speakers on June 2 will be HMRI researcher of the year Professor Julie Byles and Early Career Researcher Dr Susan Hua.
More information at www.hmri.org.au
