By Ralph Derickson

Clasey said her research shows there is evidence of an increase in incidence of type II diabetes and that it is related to poor nutrition and a general lack of physical activity among school age children.

Sept. 11, 2002 (Lexington, Ky.) -- Jody Clasey, a University of Kentucky College of Education professor, has been appointed by Lt. Gov. Stephen Henry to a task force charged with fighting the increase in obesity and diabetes in Kentucky's children.

Clasey, a researcher and professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion, was appointed to the executive steering committee of the Lieutenant Governor's Task Force on Childhood Nutrition and Fitness. She was also named chair of the task force's subcommittee on research and grants.

When he established the task force last year, Lt. Gov. Henry cited several national and regional studies that showed Kentucky children rank among the highest in the country for childhood obesity. There was a causal link between this problem and a marked increase in the cases of type II diabetes in children nationally over the last 10 years, said Tonya Chang, Health Services Liaison for Lt. Gov. Henry's office.

Type II diabetes was formerly known as "adult onset" diabetes. However the term "adult onset" has been dropped in recent years due to an alarming rise of diabetes in school age children nationwide. This problem is of specific concern to Kentucky, Clasey said. Clasey said her research shows there is evidence of an increase in incidence of type II diabetes and that it is related to poor nutrition and a general lack of physical activity among school age children.