TCU kinesiology department hosts sport psychologist and weight loss expert

Fort Worth, TX

3/25/2010

By: Taylor Chatfield, Schieffer School of Journalism

Dr. Daniel Kirschenbaum, sport psychologist and weight loss expert, spoke about ending the American misconception of obesity as an addiction at a lecture on March 11 at TCU.

Kirschenbaum spoke to a group of 52 TCU students, faculty and staff, as well as Fort Worth community members about, “The Many Advantages of Treating Overweight Teens as Athletes, not Addicts.” He focused on the need to change the way Americans view obesity. Kirschenbaum explained that overcoming obesity requires practice and a “healthy obsession.” Just like athletes must practice to excel in their sport, people who struggle with obesity must practice a healthy lifestyle to overcome obesity. Kirschenbaum said Americans must begin to view obesity through the athletic model, which promotes consistent, focused and healthy recovery, rather than the addiction model, which concentrates on the causes of obesity instead of solutions.

Sophomore ballet major Anna Bridge said she thinks people must remember that you can have an unhealthy obsession, but you can also have a healthy obsession that helps you reach healthful goals. She said this can be applied to all aspects of life and believes that Kirschenbaum’s speech was significant because his ideas of healthy goal setting and living have further reaching applications than weight loss.

Dr. Gloria Solomon, TCU associate professor of kinesiology and event organizer, said, “obesity issues are critical in our society.” Because of this, she believes Kirschenbaum’s topic is timely and necessary for TCU students as well as the Fort Worth community.

Solomon said she hopes Kirschenbaum’s knowledge and expertise will “stimulate great [discussions].” She believes that by bringing in real-world professionals, students have the opportunity to “learn what’s going on in the world.”

A professor at Northwestern Medical School, Kirschenbaum has served as a consultant for Weight Watchers as well as the U.S. Olympic Committee. In 2004, Kirschenbaum designed Wellspring, a center for overweight adolescents. He has published hundreds of articles as well as 10 books about weight loss and related topics.

Concerning his research on weight-loss and obesity, Kirschenbaum said, “This is an area that I've focused on a lot, partly because there is such a problem out there and because people are willing to get some help for it.”

Kirschenbaum’s visit was funded by the Green Honors Chair program, established by the late Drs. Cecil H. and Ida Green. The program enables the Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences, along with other schools and colleges at TCU, to bring esteemed scholars and professionals to the TCU campus.