Obesity & Weight Management

Obesity is an escalating problem for all age groups in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than one-third of U.S. adults and 46 percent of children are obese. The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston is at the forefront of obesity prevention, research and treatment and its faculty members have developed community, education and technology-based obesity intervention programs that have worldwide impact. Healthcare specialists are available to discuss obesity prevention, genetics, nutrition, surgical solutions, childhood obesity, fertility and obesity co-morbidities and chronic diseases.

Experts examine environment, obesity in forum hosted by UTHealth

From French fries to sugary sodas, the social and environmental conditions influencing the rise in childhood obesity will be the focus of the fourth annual Michael & Susan Dell Lectureship in Child Health hosted by UTHealth at 8 a.m. Wednesday, March 17, at the Joe C. Thompson Conference Center in Austin.

Community involvement important in fight against childhood obesity, according to UTHealth researchers

Community support of school obesity prevention programs is critical to achieving a significant decrease in obesity among children, according to researchers at the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Advancement of Healthy Living, which is part of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth).

El Paso County serves as a model for obesity prevention, according to UT School of Public Health study

Researchers at the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Advancement of Healthy Living at The University of Texas School of Public Health Austin Regional Campus found that obesity prevention efforts in the El Paso region were the most effective in Texas in decreasing the prevalence of childhood obesity.

UT School of Public Health hosts Texas Obesity Awareness Week

Childhood obesity, prevention efforts and policy solutions for the state will be discussed at the 2^nd Annual Texas Obesity Awareness Week hosted by the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Advancement of Healthy Living at The University of Texas School of Public Health Austin Regional Campus. The UT School of Public Health is part of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

UT public health professor receives grant to study Latinos’ body image

Cristina Barroso, Dr.P.H., assistant professor of health promotion and behavioral sciences at The University of Texas School of Public Health Brownsville Regional Campus, has received a two-year, $75,000 grant from Salud America! to research how Mexican-Americans in the Lower Rio Grande Valley perceive body image.

UT Bariatric Surgery physicians offer 3-D scanner to help patients visualize weight loss

Physicians with The University of Texas Bariatric & Metabolic Surgery Center are now offering a new tool to help patients visualize their surgical weight-loss goals and remain motivated to achieve and maintain them.

The 3-D white light scanner is the first in Houston to provide patients the most accurate measurements of their body before and after surgery. Patients stand unclothed in a booth equipped with 16 cameras. In a matter of seconds it scans 2 million points on the body.

The scanned image including measurements from the neck to the knees are captured in a Novaptus software program. Erik B. Wilson, M.D., chief of the Division of Minimally Invasive & Elective General Surgery at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, said this technology helps the Minimally Invasive Surgeons of Texas healthcare team monitor weight loss while giving patients a true picture of their progress.

Related News Releases

UT researchers test rice consumption's impact on Metabolic Syndrome

UT School of Public Health launches farmer’s market to combat obesity

Robotic Surgery Lowers Risk of a Rare but Serious Complication of Gastric Bypass

UT Physicians Begin Clinical Study of Incision-Free Obesity Treatment

UT-Houston Surgeons Offer New Procedure to Help Patients Lose Weight

UT-Houston Surgeons Offer Obese Patients New Tools to “REALIZE™” Weight Loss

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More Obesity Research Projects at The University of Texas Health Science Center

CATCH
(Coordinated Approach To Child Health)

For over 20 years, the CATCH (Coordinated Approach To Child Health) program has guided schools, families, and children in the process of being healthy. CATCH is a Texas Education Agency-approved program designed to promote physical activity, healthy food choices and prevent tobacco use in elementary school-aged children. CATCH, the largest school-based health promotion study in the country has demonstrated that behaviors such as eating foods high in saturated fat and physical inactivity can be changed.

CATCH focuses on four components: the Eat Smart school nutrition program, grades K-5 and 6-8 classroom curriculum, a physical education program and a family program.

Research results have shown that CATCH, by teaching children that eating healthy and being physically active every day can be fun, can promote behavior change. To date, CATCH has been adopted by more than 7,000 schools in the United States and more than 2,500 elementary schools in Texas, potentially impacting more than 800,000 children in Texas.

CATCH is just one of many programs at the Michael& Susan Dell Center for Advancement of Healthy Living at The University of Texas School of Public Health.