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John M. Jakicic, professor and chair of the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) Department of Health and Physical Activity, will deliver the College of Education and Human Services' annual Cheryl J. Cohen Lecture Tuesday, Oct. 15 at Western Illinois University.
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Annual Cohen Lecture Feb. 24 to Cover Lifestyle Approaches for Obesity Treatment

January 24, 2014

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Note: This lecture was originally scheduled for October 2013 and was postponed due to a death in Dr. Jakicic's family.

MACOMB, IL – John M. Jakicic, professor and chair of the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) Department of Health and Physical Activity, will deliver the College of Education and Human Services' annual Cheryl J. Cohen Lecture Monday, Feb. 24 at Western Illinois University.

The focus of the annual Cohen Lecture alternates between exercise physiology and sport psychology. This year, Jakicic, who is also the director of Pitt's Physical Activity and Weight Management Research Center, will present, "Obesity Is a Disease: Effective Lifestyle Approaches for Treatment," at 7 p.m. in the College of Fine Arts and Communication (COFAC) Recital Hall.

Provided to WIU through an endowment from Cheryl Cohen, WIU kinesiology professor emeritus, the Cheryl J. Cohen Lecture is the first endowed lecture series for the College of Education and Human Services (COEHS) at Western. It kicked off its inaugural year in 2008.

"Although Cheryl retired in 2006, after nearly 30 years of service, with her endowment, she continues to provide Western's kinesiology faculty, staff and undergraduate and graduate students, as well as community members, with a preeminent learning opportunity on Western's Macomb campus via the leading scholars and experts who deliver the Cohen Lecture," said Dana Moon, director of marketing, community relations and development for the COEHS.

Jakicic, a leading scholar in the area of physical activity and weight control, is an expert in the implementation of strategies to improve long-term adherence to physical activity and the understanding of behavioral and physiological mechanisms involved with linking physical activity to body-weight regulation. Jakicic has served on various national and international committees to develop physical activity guidelines for the prevention and treatment of obesity.

Jakicic received his bachelor's degree in physical education and health and his master's degree in exercise science from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. He received his Ph.D. in exercise physiology from the University of Pittsburgh. Jakicic's research is funded by the National Institutes of Health and focuses primarily on the role of exercise, eating behavior and physiological mechanisms related to body weight regulation and related chronic diseases.

The annual Cohen lecture is open free to the public.

For more information, contact Moon at (309) 298-1620 or via email at DM-Moon@wiu.edu.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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