Obesity and Nutritional Health

Biography

Cynthia T. Ortiz has over 15 years expertise as a personal trainer, fitness instructor, nutrition researcher and childhood obesity educator. She was a member of Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move project and has been a leader in the Philadelphia and South Jersey community teaching children and adults through the Fitadelphia and Fitadelphia Kids program since 2006. Through her program she has taught over 8,000 children at different organizations and schools, and has trained high school and college students to teach the program. She is the founder and president of the non-profit La Placita Wellness and Education Center, Inc., which was established in 2006 and provides obesity and other education programs to the community. She was recognized by Mamas Latinas in 2012 as one of the top 25 influential mothers in the nation. She is the owner of the trademark Fitadelphia and author and illustrator of the copyrighted program What’s Eating You Kid? She is currently working on a certification as a child and brain development nutritional advisor and plans to write a book about the brain and gut connection in the future.

Research Interest

1. The effects of preservatives and other food chemicals in children who are not obese. 2.The effect of preservatives and other chemicals on the microbiome of children. 3. The effects of malnutrition on learning in children. 4. The effects of malnutrition on physical growth of children. 5. The potential for obesity of children who are under nourished.6.Obesity Educator