Fort Valley State University

Obesity is a leading cause of health problems such as heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. It impacts our pocketbooks. The State of Alabama recently challenged its employees to lose weight and get in shape by charging a “fat tax” beginning in 2011. Will other states follow suit? The topic of obesity will be tackled at the first Brown Bag Lunch Seminar, this semester, hosted by Fort Valley State University’s Population Studies Center, at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8 in Bywaters Building, Room 105. Dr. Frank Heiland, a professor from Florida State University’s Department of Economics will present a paper: “Race, Obesity and the Puzzle of Gender Specificity.” The event is sponsored by the Economics Club.

Sharon Paitoo, an FVSU economics major, will also present a paper entitled, “Spatial Disparities and Health Gaps in Ghana.” For more information about the event, please contact Dr. Jehad Yasin, interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and Population Studies Center director at (478) 825-6454.