The mission of the Obesity Prevention Program is to lessen the burden of obesity-related disorders by conducting epidemiologic, intervention and health services research studies within defined populations of children and adults. The Program is part of the Department of Population Medicine (DPM), a unique research and teaching collaboration between Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care.
Primary research areas
The Program's three primary areas of research expertise are:
Epidemiologic studies of the development of obesity and its sequelae, including metabolic syndrome, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This area invokes the life course approach to chronic disease, and especially targets etiologic factors working at the earliest stages of human development.
Interventions to prevent childhood obesity and its consequences. This area's focus is on innovative behavior change interventions in primary care settings, with an additional interest in community settings such as child care.
Health services research on the effects on prevalence and consequences of obesity of:
- Health plan policies and programs
- Clinical therapeutic interventions such as surgery or pharmaceutical agents
- Decision support or new technology for clinicians
- Cost-effectiveness of clinical and policy interventions
The Obesity Prevention Program is a multidisciplinary program that fosters collaboration among DPM investigators, across the Harvard campus, and both nationally and internationally. It serves as a springboard for training the next generation of researchers in obesity prevention.
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