The WELL Center, a newly established interdisciplinary hub for clinical research in obesity, eating disorders, and physical activity, held its inaugural research symposium on Friday, March 9, 2018.

Presenters shared their research on eating behavior, physical activity, and weight management. Participation from students and faculty across disciplines was encouraged, including fields such as psychology, biology, nutrition, technology, engineering, marketing, decision making, public health, nursing and medicine.

Undergraduate and graduate students, research fellows, staff, and faculty were invited to submit abstracts for “flash talks” (i.e., brief oral presentations) on their research. See below for the schedule of events and the speakers who participated.

Schedule of Events

12:00-1:00 p.m. - Welcome and Keynote Address
Lebow College of Business, GHALL 220

Welcome and Opening Remarks

• Evan Forman, PhD, professor of psychology and Director of the WELL Center

Keynote Address

• Kelly Brownell, PhD, Dean of Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University
  
  "Creating Better Food Policy: Harnessing Research to Create Impact"

  Kelly Brownell, PhD, is a scientist, professor, and internationally renowned expert on food policy. Brownell is Dean of the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University, and is a professor of public policy. Before going to Duke, Brownell was Director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale, where he was also professor of psychology and professor of epidemiology and public health. His research deals primarily with food policy, obesity prevention, and the intersection of behavior, environment, and health with public policy.

  Brownell was named in 2006 as one of "The World's 100 Most Influential People" by Time magazine and has advised the White House, members of Congress, governors, world health and nutrition organizations, and media leaders on issues of nutrition, obesity and public health policy. He has published 15 books and more than 350 scientific articles and chapters and has served as president of several national organizations, including the Society of Behavioral Medicine. His awards include the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Psychological Association.

1:00-2:30 p.m. - Featured Presentations and Flash talks
Lebow College of Business, Multiple Locations - See Below

Obesity Track: Lebow College of Business, GHALL 108

• 1:00-1:10 David Sarwer - "Strategies to address weight regain after bariatric surgery"
• 1:10-1:20 Kelly Allison - "Impact of the timing of eating on weight and metabolism"
• 1:25-2:30 Flash Talks

Eating Disorder Track: Lebow College of Business, GHALL 209

• 1:00-1:15 Eunice Chen - "Early rapid response as a predictor of treatment outcomes"
• 1:15-1:30 Kathryn Godfrey - "Psychophysiology of stress among individuals with obesity and loss of control eating"
• 1:30-2:30 Flash Talks

Eating Behavior and Physical Activity Track: Lebow College of Business, GHALL 406

• 1:00-1:10 Shiriki Kumanyika - "Sensitizing consumers to their food environments"
• 1:10-1:20 Jennifer Nasser - "Effect of sugar content on electroetinographic b wave response to tasting chocolate"
• 1:20-1:30 Mark Stehr - "Making plans to go to the gym: Evidence from a randomized field experiment"
• 1:30-2:30 Flash Talks

Full Agenda and Titles for Flash Talks

2:30-3:00 p.m. - Reception
Lebow College of Business, GHALL 220/221

Questions? Please Contact:

• Stephanie Vander Veur, MPH, Director of Operations, WELL Center (slv47@drexel.edu)
• Meghan Butryn, PhD, Director of Research, WELL Center (mlb34@drexel.edu)