Applied Research Groups

CDC’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (DNPAO) works with colleagues from multiple entities such as academic institutions and health care practitioners to ensure that scientific research guides public health practices in nutrition, physical activity, and obesity prevention.

Nutrition and Obesity Policy Research and Evaluation Network (NOPREN)

NOPREN is a thematic research network of the Prevention Research Centers. DNPAO created NOPREN to foster understanding of the effectiveness of policies to prevent obesity through improved access to affordable, healthier foods and beverages in childcare, schools, worksite, and other community settings.

Physical Activity Policy Research and Evaluation Network (PAPREN)

PAPREN is a CDC-funded thematic research network that brings diverse partners together to create communities where all people can be healthy and physically active. The Network advances the evidence base and puts research into practice through collaboration across sectors with a shared vision: active people in active communities, supported by equitable, sustainable policies and practices.

National Collaborative for Childhood Obesity Research (NCCOR)

NCCOR is a collaboration among CDC, the National Institutes of Health, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the US Department of Agriculture to address childhood obesity in America. These organizations work in tandem to manage projects, combine funding, and share insights and expertise to strengthen research. A special emphasis is on people at highest risk for obesity, including those who are Black or African-American, Hispanic, Native American, Asian, natives of Pacific Islands, and children living in low-income communities.

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