Panel will exam how behavior affects health

Experts and organizers (from left) Dr. Landi Halloran, Physical Therapist Chet Clodfelter and Gina Ames go over information they plan to discuss during Tuesday night's "Health Mind, Healthy Body" public seminar sponsored by Mental Health America Putnam County.

Overeating has become a serious problem for some children, according to a Putnam County doctor who is among several health experts scheduled to speak at a public gathering Tuesday night.

Dr. Landi Halloran says she sees children who are overweight and wonders if parents and others aren't at least partially to blame. A common way of rewarding a child's good behavior is through food and Halloran believes the children are suffering ill effects by becoming overweight.

"We are teaching them that good things are rewarded by food," Halloran said.

The doctor suggested parents should come up with other things to reward their children such as healthy food or a trip to the park.

Joining Halloran on the discussion panel will be Greencastle Physical Therapist Chet Clodfelter.

Clodfelter says he plans to emphasize what he calls the "triangle of health," referring to a person's physical, emotional and spiritual health.

"If you're having problems in one area, it tends to bring down the other areas too," he said.

Another important topic to be addressed is body image, and specifically how this affects a person's choices. Information for teens and tips for helping them make the right choices will be available to those who attend.

The panel of experts, which also include fitness enthusiast Lee Stewart and DePauw professor of philosophy and Tai Chi instructor Marthe Chandler, plans to emphasize good eating habits and exercise to all who attend the 6:30 p.m. program tomorrow night.

The event will be held at the Putnam County Museum, located at 1105 N. Jackson St., in Greencastle.

Time for questions will be provided after the panelists give their formal presentations.

The program is called "Healthy Mind, Healthy Body" and is one in a series of special events put on by Mental Health America of Putnam County.

Director Eileen Johnson said there was a large attendance at past events when autism and depression were discussed and she hopes for as large a crowd Tuesday night.

"This is about a solution," Halloran said. "Big problems like this take everybody getting involved."

To find more about this free program, call the mental health association at 653-3310.