What are the most effective weight loss/weight gain prevention strategies for high risk groups?

What knowledge about health behavior change can be leveraged to design innovative and effective strategies for behavior change among the most vulnerable individuals?

Will sensitivity to the psychological aspects of obesity, including lifestyle priorities and motivations, improve the efficacy of long-term effectiveness of weight loss and obesity prevention interventions?

Why do some people stop smoking after a stroke or myocardial infarction, whereas others do not? What motivates people who adopt a healthier diet and exercise program during their lifetime or after a significant health event? How can we promote healthier lifestyle choices at all stages of life? How do we ensure equitable health promoting activities for minorities, vulnerable populations, and lower socio-economic status... more »

There is evidence of a higher prevalence of sleep and circadian disorders in different ethnic groups. This is true for both adult and pediatric subjects. There is also evidence that minority populations in lower socioeconomic groups do not seek evaluation for sleep disorders as frequently as other segments of our population. There is also evidence that they are less adherent to treatments such as nasal CPAP for obstructive... more »

Self-report data indicate that insufficient sleep is more common in minority populations. This seems to be related to socioeconomic status. There is a need to move this beyond self-report and obtain objective measures in the relevant populations. Moreover, the basis of this difference needs to be established. What aspect of the environment leads to these differences, e.g., noise, stress related to sense of vulnerability,... more »

What approaches can utilize current knowledge on health literacy/health communications as a research development tool and/or strategy to enhance obesity prevention and treatment efforts?

There is a need to identify effective interventions for heart, lung, blood, and sleep diseases that could have a transformative population level impact on health inequities if expanded at the national level.

Since most people know that there are behaviors that they need to do to be healthy, can we leverage peer or family pressure or use social media to create a “grass roots” groundswell of health-promoting behaviors?

How might social media platforms such as Facebook and Meetup.com be leveraged for designing low-cost research studies and interventions that promote sustainable healthy lifestyle and behaviors?

Non-pharmacological interventions for pain and stress have gained tremendous momentum.

Mind-Body Practice -- Qigong and Tai Chi -- are group based and inexpensive to implement. The evidence base suggests that these practices are safe and effective for a multitude of preventable chronic disorders..

THE QUESTION:
Given safety and efficacy, should there be vigorous research on implementation of Qigong and Tai Chi and... more »

Obesity research is riddled with methodological problems that are rarely challenged, leading to the perpetuation of misinformation and interventions that do harm. Given the two-thirds of the population who are classified as higher weight and thus subject to these interventions, it is past time to clean up the basic scientific flaws in this research area.

For a quick summary of a couple of these issues, see Poodle Science:... more »

What is the measureable normal human variation at the -omic, cellular, organ, and system levels within the population and across the lifespan?
• What are the range of normal human cellular functions that create resilience at all levels—cells, organs, organ systems?
• What inter-organ, tissue, and cellular communications maintain individual health and the health of populations?
• How do we understand why individuals with... more »

What is the secret behind the “resilience” some people have to heart, lung, blood, and sleep (HLBS) diseases?

From various publications and reports, we have characterized the risks associated with sickle cell disease (SCD) and understand many of the barriers for treatment of SCD in LMICs. How can implementation science research be used to reduce the negative outcomes of SCD in low/middle income countries?

How can we most effectively prevent and treat cardiovascular disease among persons with serious mental disorders?