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SUMMARY:Tackling obesity with Big Data – Seminar 16/03/16 – methods & 
 models - Dr Michelle Morris\, Leeds Institute for Data Analytics (Organize
 r)
DTSTART:20160316T090000Z
DTEND:20160316T140000Z
UID:TALK65114@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Paul Browne
DESCRIPTION:ESRC Strategic Network: tackling obesity with Big Data\, Semin
 ar 2 – methods and models\n\nThis is the second of four seminars held by
  the ESRC Obesity Strategic Network\, to explore how Big Data can best be 
 used to understand and tackle obesity.The seminar will be presented by:\n\
 n    Adam Drewnowski\, School of Public Health\, University of Washington\
 n    Darren Greenwood\, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Me
 dicine\n    James Woodcock\, CEDAR & MRC Epidemiology Unit\, University of
  Cambridge\n    Robin Lovelace\, School of Geography\, University of Leeds
 \n\nThe panel discussion with be facilitated by Seraphim Alvanides\, and i
 nclude the seminar speakers along with Sandy Tubeuf and Daniel Lewis.\n\nF
 ull agenda and booking at www.cdrc.ac.uk/research/march-2016/\n\nFor furth
 er information contact Michelle Morris m.morris@leeds.ac.uk / 0113 343 088
 3\n\nAbout the network\n\nIncreasing volumes of ‘data’ about individua
 l behaviours are becoming available through social media\, mobile phone ge
 otagging\, store loyalty cards and purchasing transaction data . There are
  many opportunities to use these data to benefit society. One key example 
 is to better understand how the environment in which we live influences ou
 r behaviours leading to health concerns such as overweight and obesity. A 
 better understanding of these complex interactions offers scope for design
 ing interventions to addressing this significant ‘wicked’ challenge.\n
 \nObesity continues to be a problem in the UK with the most recent figures
  reporting 67% of men and 57% of women classed as overweight or obese. Ove
 rweight and obesity are serious health concerns and are risk factors for o
 ther non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease\, type 2 dia
 betes\, hypertension\, osteoarthritis and certain cancers. In many places 
 the environment in which we live makes it easy to gain weight. For example
 \, fast food outlets are regularly closer to our homes and workplaces than
  supermarkets with healthier food choices\, and it is often safer or more 
 convenient to drive to work rather than walk. These factors encourage indi
 viduals to eat unhealthy foods and be sedentary rather than physically act
 ive\, contributing to weight gain and subsequent overweight and obesity. T
 his setting has been termed an ‘obesogenic environment’.\n\nIn order t
 o promote healthier eating and more physical activity\; groups of professi
 onals need to work together to better understand how to modify these envir
 onmental influences so that it is easier to eat a good diet and be more ac
 tive These groups of professionals include researchers with an interest in
  diet and physical activity as well as involved with promoting active trav
 el\, reducing crime and improving retail planning. Real changes also need 
 the involvement of local government\, planning organisations\, retailers\,
  charities and health practitioners. Experts in data analytics are require
 d to harness the volumes of information available and use these in a meani
 ngful way.\n\nThis network aims to do just that – bring together many di
 fferent types of researchers with policy makers\, retail and third sector 
 organisations to work collaboratively in order to plan how to make best us
 e of the large volumes of data now available to inform research\, policy a
 nd practice in the prevention of obesity.\n\nA network like this is a prim
 e example of how the whole is far greater than the sum of its parts and to
 gether there is great potential to make a difference.\n\nMore at www.cdrc.
 ac.uk
LOCATION:Mill Lane Lecture Rooms\, 8 Mill Lane\, Cambridge\, CB2 1RX
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