During the past 20 years, obesity among adults has risen significantly in the United States. The latest data from the National Center for Health Statistics show that 30 percent of U.S. adults 20 years of age and older—over 60 million people—are obese. This increase is not limited to adults. The percentage of young people who are overweight has more than tripled since 1980. Among children and teens aged 6–19 years, 16 percent (over 9 million young people) are considered overweight. These increasing rates raise concern because of their implications for Americans’ health. Being overweight or obese increases the risk of many diseases and health conditions, including the following: 1) Hypertension; 2) Dyslipidemia; 3) Type 2 diabetes; 4) Coronary heart disease ; 4) Stroke; 5) Gallbladder disease; 6) Osteoarthritis; 7) Sleep apnea and respiratory problems; and 8) Some cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon).
Although one of the national health objectives for the year 2010 is to reduce the prevalence of obesity among adults to less than 15 percent, current data indicate that the situation is worsening rather than improving. Hopkins GIM faculty members are investigating and combating the obesity epidemic across the full range of its natural history, using a variety of research approaches. Information about the faculty working in this research area and their projects is provided below.
Lawrence Appel, MD, MPH
Professor of Medicine, Epidemiology, and International Health; Core Faculty, Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research
Research Interests: Clinical trials, lifestyle interventions
To see publication abstracts: PubMed
Diane M. Becker, MPH, ScD
Professor of Medicine & Health Policy and Management, Director, Center for Family Studies in Cardiovascular Disease
Research Interests: Genetic epidemiology, health disparities, primary prevention, behavioral sciences, research design
To see publication abstracts: PubMed
Frederick L. Brancati, MD, MHS, FACP
Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology; Director, Division of GIM; Core Faculty, Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research
PI, JHU site of the Look AHEAD Study
Research Interests: Type 2 diabetes
To see publication abstracts: PubMed
Jeanne M. Clark, MD, MPH, FACP
Associate Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology; Core Faculty, Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research
Co-PI, JHU site of the Look AHEAD Study
Research Interests: Fatty liver disease; bariatric surgery
To see publication abstracts: PubMed
Gail Daumit, MD, MHS
Associate Professor of Medicine, Epidemiology, and Health Policy and Management; Core Faculty, Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research
Research Interests: Obesity and mental illness
To see publication abstracts: PubMed
Joseph Finkelstein, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Medicine; Core Faculty, Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology and Clinical Research; Director, Chronic Disease Informatics Program, JHU
Research Interests: Use of health informatics to improve management of obesity
Click to see publication abstracts: PubMed
Tiffany Gary, PhD, MHS
Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Medicine; Core Faculty, Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research
Research Interests: Social epidemiology and health disparities
To see publication abstracts: PubMed
Felicia Hill-Briggs, PhD, ABPP
Associate Professor of Medicine; Core Faculty, Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research
Research Interests: Behavioral medicine
To see publication abstracts: PubMed
Mary Margaret Huizinga, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor of Medicine; Core Faculty, Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology and Clinical Research
Research Interests: Clinical epidemiology of obesity and related conditions
To see publication abstracts: PubMed
H.C. (Jessica) Yeh, PhD
Assistant Professor, Medicine and Epidemiology; Core Faculty, Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology and Clinical Research
Research Interests: Methods in epidemiology and controlled trials; clinical research mentorship; diabetes and novel complications; obesity
To see publication abstracts: PubMed
J. Hunter Young, MD, MHS
Assistant Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology; Core Faculty, Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research
Research Interests: Obesity and high blood pressure
To see publication abstracts: PubMed
