All projects

Global Research Initiative

Overview

‍Under the seasoned leadership of Drs. Barry Popkin and Penny Gordon-Larsen, our international team conducts the Global Research initiative, formerly known as the China Health and Nutrition Survey. This extensive study harnesses data over a seven-day period from a sample of approximately 7,200 households, totaling over 30,000 individuals across 15 diverse provinces and cities in China. The data collection spans nutrition, public health, economics, sociology, demography, and other critical fields. This rich dataset is bolstered by thorough community assessments, including evaluations of local markets, health facilities, and social services.

Research Team and Collaborations

‍Our project thrives on the synergy of a multidisciplinary team, including renowned experts with a 25-year history of collaboration. Alongside Drs. Annie Greene Howard, Shufa Du, and other notable scholars at UNC, and Dr. Bing Zhang from China's CDC, we are forging ahead with pivotal studies in the realm of public health and nutrition.

Focused Research Endeavors

  1. Monitoring Social Change in Aging and Cognitive Function (R01AG065357):With the projected global increase in dementia, our research taps into the longitudinal data of the CHNS to examine the intersection of lifestyle transitions, urbanization, and cognitive decline over three decades in China.
  2. Health and Human Capital from Childhood to Adulthood (R01HD030880-26):Addressing the cognitive potential in children affected by China's social and economic upheavals, this study utilizes intergenerational CHNS data to dissect the biological, health, and environmental factors influencing child development.
  3. Heterogeneity in Cardiometabolic Risk with Obesity (R21-DK089306):Investigating the variance in cardiometabolic risk among individuals with similar BMI, this study seeks to understand the metabolic health disparities that contribute to conditions such as insulin resistance and systemic inflammation in the context of China's rapid modernization.
  4. Emergence of Cardiometabolic Risk across the Lifecycle in China (R01HL108427):This project aims to trace the development of cardiometabolic risk factors amidst China's environmental transformation. Utilizing a longitudinal structural model, we examine how diet and activity patterns, weight, and waist circumference evolve with blood pressure and cardiometabolic risk over 20 years.

Research Methodologies and Impact

‍Through the use of advanced statistical methods such as Latent Class Trajectory Analysis, we are able to characterize patterns of weight change and their impact on cardiometabolic health. Our findings have global relevance, extending beyond China to inform international strategies for combating weight gain and associated health risks.

Conclusion

‍The Global Research initiative offers an unparalleled window into the complex interplay of dietary, environmental, and lifestyle factors with health outcomes. By exploring the nuances of this relationship through rigorous data collection and analysis, we contribute to a deeper understanding of public health trends and inform effective intervention strategies worldwide.