Obesity currently afflicts more than a third of Arkansans. A chronic disease, obesity is unfortunately a risk factor for other serious diseases such as heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and certain types of cancer.
Many factors (e.g., access to nutritious foods and health care) impact state and national obesity rates. Socioeconomic inequalities also add to obesity risk and are related to the neighborhoods in which people live, work and play.
Given the complexities of obesity, our research is multifaceted, with emphasis in the following areas:
- Mechanisms leading to disparities in obesity and obesity-related morbidities
- Environments and nutrition choices that promote healthy weight
- Evidence-based programs, policies, and interventions to prevent excess weight-gain
Although our programs stretch well beyond the boundaries of Little Rock, our location at UAMS uniquely positions us to study obesity in unprecedented ways. From the heart of the state’s largest academic health center, we collaborate with a vast number of professionals/programs across many disciplines that broaden our disease understanding.