ITHACA, N.Y. -- How do social, economic and manmade environments influence diet and physical activity throughout life? Why might vulnerable populations be affected more seriously by these environmental impacts? These questions are the focus of the conference "Ecology of Obesity: Linking Science and Action," slated for June 6-7 at Cornell University.

The conference, sponsored by the College of Human Ecology, is intended for practitioners and researchers who are interested in implementing an ecological perspective in obesity research and prevention.

"Due to increased physical inactivity and poor diet, obesity rates have reached epidemic proportions in the United States and abroad," says Christine Olson, professor of nutritional sciences and a conference co-chair with Nancy Wells, assistant professor of design and environmental analysis, both at Cornell. "Cornell is uniquely poised to conduct research using an ecological perspective on the issues and to serve as a catalyst in translating research into action to tackle the epidemic."

The first part of the conference -- geared to health and nutrition professionals, faculty and students who are interested in gaining a better understanding of obesity issues -- will take place in Martha Van Rensselaer Hall on the Cornell campus. In addition, the session will be video-linked to 10 sites: county Cornell Cooperative Extension offices in Rochester, Watertown, Ellicottville, Binghamton, Plattsburgh, Ballston Spa, Riverhead and Valhalla as well as to Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City and the University of Albany School of Public Health in Rensselaer.

Notable speakers include James Hill, program director of the Center for Human Nutrition at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, addressing "Obesity and Energy Balance"; James Sallis, program director of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Active Living Research Program at San Diego State University, discussing "Obesity and the Built Environment"; and Penny Gordon-Larsen, assistant professor at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, discussing "Socioeconomic and Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Obesity."

The second part of the conference -- a working session in Ithaca and not video linked -- is intended for researchers and practitioners planning community interventions. The working session is open to individuals working at Cornell in Ithaca, at Weill Cornell, at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and at the New York State Department of Health. This session begins with participants' poster presentations on current or proposed research and action projects. Additional presentations are structured around the themes of environment, design and obesity; the life course and obesity; economics and obesity; and youth and obesity. Registration and submission of an abstract is required for attendance at the working session. See http://www.ecologyofobesity.net.

The agenda, registration and location details for the information session held at the video-linked sites are available at http://nutritionworks.cornell.edu/ECO/. Advance registration and a fee of $20 ($10 for students) are required to attend the conference or a video-linked site. The registration deadline is May 20.