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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, August 14, 2014 | 12 Oakville physician helping tackle obesity in children by Abigail Cukier Special to the Beaver Dr. Katherine Morrison wants to help children who are in a battle with obesity. The Oakville resident is a pediatric endocrinologist at McMaster University and a lead author on a study to see why some children achieve success with weight management programs while others do not. "We want to see what results in families that do achieve success and then use that to make our treatment better," Morrison explained. McMaster is one of eight centres with a weight management program in Canada that will be part of the Canadian Pediatric Weight Management Registry (CANPWR). The $1-million study, funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, was prompted by high dropout rates at weight management programs. It will begin in about two years, following the current recruitment phase. The study will monitor 1,600 kids, aged two to 17, measuring sugar metabolism, cholesterol and blood pressure rates and changes in levels of fat and muscle in the body. Participants will also answer questions regarding depression, anxiety and quality of life. And researchers will look at more than a person's size. "We are trying to understand why some people get diabetes or hypertension or struggle with mental health," said Morrison, who is co-director of MAC-Obesity, a project of McMaster University and McMaster Children's Hospital. MAC-Obesity is short for Metabolism And Childhood There are many challenges for changing human behaviour. People are often educated and understand they need to be more active, to eat more fruits and vegetables. It's how to accomplish this, and what impact it will have on health outcomes, they may have difficulty understanding. We try to work with families on that. We have had success, but we are a long way from having all the answers to best tailor our programs to care for these families in the best way possible. Dr. Katherine Morrison pediatric endocrinologist Dr. Katherine Morrison Obesity Research Program. Its members include laboratory researchers from McMaster University and clinicians from Hamilton Health Sciences and McMaster studying pediatric obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal disorders and cancer. CANPWR is one of many MAC-Obesity studies. For this study, participants will be monitored as they enter the weight management program and are followed for the next three years. These programs teach families about portion control, nutrition, exercise and how to get more physical activity. "There are many challenges for changing human behaviour. People are often educated and understand they need to be more active, to eat more fruits and vegetables. It's how to accomplish this, and what impact it will have on health outcomes, they may have difficulty understanding. We try to work with families on that," Morrison said. "We have had success but we are a long way from having all the answers to best tailor our programs to care for these families in the best way possible." TORONTO ARGONAUTS DEAL! LARGE PIZZA + 3 Toppings + 3 Cans of Coke Upsize to X-LARGE WALK-IN ONLY NO PHONE ORDERS + 2 TICKETS TO SEE THE ARGOS Sunday, August 17, 2014 @ 7:30pm, Rogers Centre Toronto Argonauts vs. B.C. Lions Valid with walk-in order of this Pizza Pizza deal only. Tickets available for this game only. While supplies last. OFFICIAL PIZZA OF OFFER VALID AT THESE RESTAURANTS ONLY: 31A Lakeshore Road West 1152 Winston Churchill Blvd. 2525 Prince Michael Drive Walk in only. No phone orders. Tickets available for this game only. Taxes extra. Prices subject to change. Registered trademarks of Pizza Pizza Royalty Limited Partnership, used under license. © Pizza Pizza 2014 0016196