With the plethora of information about diet plans and exercise regimens, it’s a challenge for the public and health-care professionals to make informed choices.

With that in mind, the Stanford Center for Research in Disease Prevention is hosting an April 24 symposium that aims to streamline the process by presenting the latest research-based information on preventing obesity and staying healthy.

The symposium, "Popular Diet and Exercise Programs for Obesity Prevention and Good Health: What Works?" will feature several Stanford researchers addressing topics such as "Popular Diets: What We Know and What We Don’t Know"; "Behavioral Strategies for Weight Management"; and "Current Exercise Guidelines and Popular Exercise Programs: What Can You Believe?"

William Haskell, PhD, professor of medicine at Stanford and organizer of the conference, said the event offers a unique opportunity for the public and health professionals to get reliable scientific information. "When it comes to diet and exercise, everyone thinks they know all they need to know, but there’s a lot of misinformation out there," he said.

With 44.3 million American adults classified as obese, Haskell noted, obesity has become "an epidemic" in the United States, leading to serious health problems including diabetes and heart disease.

The symposium, held in Fairchild Auditorium, will take place from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Space is limited and registration is required. Call 723-9649 or e-mail cstough@stanford.edu by April 22.