The Weight is Over

This course will review the relationship between behavior and obesity and explore the role of personal responsibility versus social responsibility in maintaining a healthy weight. (S: GCH 104)�

Course Details

Schedule: GCH 104-04 MWF 2-2.50
Companion Course: WRT 106-01 MWF 8-8.50

Instructor
Deborah Riebe

What initially drew you to your field of study?

I am an exercise physiologist. Prior to earning my doctorate, I worked in a health/fitness center where I saw people struggle with weight management on a daily basis. As the epidemic of obesity grew and we learned more about the negative effects that obesity has on health, it was clear that we needed to find ways to help people live healthier lifestyles. Maintaining a healthy weight is a very big challenge - the more we understand it, the faster we can try to reverse this trend.

What is your particular area of focus/research within this field today?

I work with an interdisciplinary team of researchers who focus on helping individuals adopt a healthier lifestyle. We have looked at interventions to help overweight and obese individuals lose weight and have studied the prevention of weight gain with college students. Finally, we have examined the effects of overweight and obesity on functional ability in older adults.

What do you think will most surprise students about your classes?

The examination of the effectiveness all of the products, programs, and policies that we all confront each day. Will putting the calorie content on the menu at McDonald's really help people make healthier choices?

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