The Division of Physical Activity and Weight Management is a multidisciplinary, NIH-funded group within the Department of Internal Medicine focused on improving health through physical activity, nutrition, and weight management across the lifespan. Our work integrates:
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Controlled and translational research
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Clinical weight management programs
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Community-based and real-world implementation
We operate a well-established clinical weight management program that serves as a central platform for both clinical care and research, providing direct access to various populations of individuals with obesity and related chronic conditions. This clinical infrastructure supports efficient recruitment, intervention delivery, and longitudinal follow-up within real-world settings, facilitating high-impact clinical and translational research.
The Division is closely aligned with the Division of Obesity Medicine and is an active participant in the Kansas Center for Metabolism and Obesity Research (KC-MORE), an NIH-funded COBRE, which provides mentorship, pilot funding opportunities, and access to shared research cores. Additionally, the Division contributes to and collaborates with the Nutrition Obesity Research Centers (NORC) Research Resource Center, further expanding opportunities for multidisciplinary collaboration and national engagement.
Research efforts are supported by the Energy Balance Laboratory, a state-of-the-art facility equipped to measure energy intake, energy expenditure, and physical activity using advanced methodologies. These resources support rigorous investigation of behavioral and physiological mechanisms underlying obesity and weight management.
Ongoing work includes lifestyle and behavioral interventions targeting diverse populations, including rural and underserved communities, as well as individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.