title: Identifying interdisciplinary research priorities to prevent and treat pediatric obesity in New York City.
abstract: It is well recognized that an interdisciplinary approach is essential in the development and implementation of solutions to address the current pediatric obesity epidemic. In two half-day meetings that included workshops and focus groups, faculty from diverse fields identified critically important research challenges, and gaps to childhood obesity prevention. The purpose of this white paper is to describe the iterative, interdisciplinary process that unfolded in an academic health center setting with a specific focus on underrepresented minority groups of Black and Hispanic communities, and to summarize the research challenges and gaps related to pediatric obesity that were identified in the process. Although the research challenges and gaps were developed in the context of an urban setting including high-risk populations (the northern Manhattan communities of Washington Heights, Inwood, and Harlem), many of the issues raised are broadly applicable. The processes by which the group identified research gaps and methodological challenges that impede a better understanding of how to prevent and treat obesity in children has resulted in an increase in research and community outreach collaborations and interdisciplinary pursuit of funding opportunities across units within the academic health center and overall university.
authors: Department of Medicine, New York Obesity Nutrition Research Center, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital, New York, USA. dg108@columbia.edu
authors: Dympna
authors: D
authors: Gallagher
authors: Elaine L
authors: EL
authors: Larson
authors: Yun-Hsin Claire
authors: YH
authors: Wang
authors: Boyd
authors: B
authors: Richards
authors: Chunhua
authors: C
authors: Weng
authors: Patricia
authors: P
authors: Hametz
authors: Melissa D
authors: MD
authors: Begg
authors: Wendy K
authors: WK
authors: Chung
authors: Bernadette
authors: B
authors: Boden-Albala
authors: Sharon R
authors: SR
authors: Akabas
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D004493:Education; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D015995:Prevalence; D012106:Research / Q000639:trends; D012107:Research Design