HLS 19RS-1144 ORIGINAL
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 44
BY REPRESENTATIVE DUPLESSIS
COMMENDATIONS: Commends Dr. Melinda Sothern, the Scientists for Translational
Research in Youth research group, and the Louisiana State University Health
Sciences Center, New Orleans, School of Public Health
1 A RESOLUTION
2To commend Dr. Melinda Sothern, the Scientists for Translational Research in Youth
3 research group, and the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New
4 Orleans, School of Public Health for outreach, education, and research related to
5 fighting obesity in adolescent, infant, and adult populations throughout Louisiana.
6 WHEREAS, the Louisiana State University (LSU) Health Sciences Center, New
7Orleans, School of Public Health, established in 2003, provides a multitude of public health-
8related services to the population of Louisiana, including education, community outreach,
9collaboration, and research; and
10 WHEREAS, Dr. Melinda Sothern, professor and Jim Finks Endowed Chair in Health
11Promotion at the LSU Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, School of Public Health has
12devoted the last three decades of her professional career to advancing research into the
13causes, patterns, and behaviors associated with obesity, particularly childhood obesity; and
14 WHEREAS, Louisiana currently ranks fourth in highest prevalence of childhood
15obesity and sixth in prevalence of adult obesity; obesity is considered a chronic disease that
16is associated with reduced duration and quality of life, poor mental health, increased
17healthcare costs, loss of productivity, and increased risk for several leading causes of death,
18including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancer; and
19 WHEREAS, Dr. Sothern, the Scientists for Translational Research in Youth
20(STORY) research group, and the School of Public Health work collaboratively on multiple
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HR NO. 44
1programs that help to better understand the social determinates of obesity while also
2providing outreach activities to help reduce the obesity rate throughout Louisiana; these
3programs, studies, and outreach activities include the Healthy Together Family Nutrition and
4Exercise Program, Molecular and Social Determinants of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders
5in Developing Youth, and the Handbook of Pediatric Obesity: Clinical Management; and
6 WHEREAS, Dr. Sothern's activities have had direct results in improving the health
7of Louisiana's population through nutrition education and counseling, family cooking classes
8and instruction, exercise and fitness classes sponsored by LSU Health Sciences Center, New
9Orleans, and a greater understanding of the causes and risk elements associated with obesity.
10 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
11Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend Dr. Melinda Sothern, the STORY research
12group, and the LSU Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, School of Public Health for
13outreach, education, and research related to fighting obesity in adolescent, infant, and adult
14populations throughout Louisiana.
15 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
16to Dr. Larry Hollier, chancellor of LSU Health Sciences Center, New Orleans.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HR 44 Original 2019 Regular Session Duplessis
Commends Dr. Melinda Sothern and the LSU Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, School
of Public Health for fighting obesity throughout La.
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