About Us

Background

In 2003, the East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine's Department of Pediatrics formed the Pediatric Healthy Weight Research and Treatment Center in response to the national and regional epidemic of childhood obesity that is threatening the health of our children. Regional studies in eastern North Carolina show about half of all children are overweight or obese in the region. Several studies have found almost twice as many children in eastern North Carolina are considered obese (about 30%) compared to children nationally (17%).

Mission Statement

The mission of the Pediatric Healthy Weight Research and Treatment Center is to prevent and reduce childhood obesity through clinical care, research, education and community service. This mission is accomplished through:

Clinical evaluation and treatment of overweight and obese children and adolescents
Basic science and translational research in both community and academic settings;
Education and training of students from multiple disciplines for careers related to childhood obesity; and
Inter-professional collaboration among researchers, care providers, community agencies and community members.

Download a copy of the Pediatric Healthy Weight Research and Treatment Center brochure here (3.5 MB pdf). It describes the programs, activities, research and funding needs of the center.