Research
Obesity and Related Chronic Diseases
Obesity and chronic disease: Obesity is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Each year obesity-related conditions cost over 150 billion dollars and cause an estimated 300,000 premature deaths in the US. The health effects associated with obesity include diabetes, heart disease, cancer, arthritis, and sleep apnea. The causes of obesity are complex and a combination of genetics, socioeconomic factors, metabolic factors and lifestyle choices, among other things. Effective strategies to halt obesity have remained elusive but are critically needed to avoid substantial increases in chronic disease in coming years. CHR clinical trials are research studies that evaluate a new eating, activity, lifestyle, medical and other approaches to obesity prevention and treatment. At CHR, participants have access to some of the latest, advanced clinical obesity prevention and treatment trials.
- Ethnic Enclaves
- WW Success Survey
- BPA Study
- Processed Foods
- Virtually Healthy
Maternal and Child Health
Maternal and Child Health: Maternal obesity and excess weight gain during pregnancy increase long-term risk for obesity and its cardiometabolic complications in both mothers and children. Intrauterine exposure to an obese intrauterine environment may program offspring obesity risk by influencing appetite, metabolism, and activity levels. Efforts to interrupt this cycle of obesity are important for public health. CHR studies are testing novel lifestyle approaches in the time surrounding pregnancy to reduce maternal obesity and related comorbidities and improve long-term health of the child, the mother, her future pregnancies, and subsequent generations.