The 25th annual J. Warren Perry speaker to address issues of world obesity

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The University at Buffalo School of Public Health and Health Professions has chosen Barry M. Popkin, PhD, the W.R. Kenan Jr. Distinguished Professor of Nutrition at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (UNC-CH), to present the 25th Annual J. Warren Perry Lecture on Wednesday, Oct. 16, at 3 p.m. in Butler Auditorium, 150 Farber Hall on the South Campus.

The title of Popkin’s presentation is “National and Global Obesity: Changing Dynamics and Challenges in How the World Eats.” The lecture is free and open to the public.

Popkin, whose PhD is in economics, established the Division of Nutrition Epidemiology at UNC-CH.

He also developed the concept of the Nutrition Transition, which is characterized by rapid socioeconomic, demographic and technological changes, often linked with increasing globalization. These shifts have led to an ever-growing rate of change and shifts or transitions of dietary activity and body composition patterns around the world.

The Nutrition Transition Program of UNC-CH, housed at the Carolina Population Center, is developing a series of longitudinal surveys and studies coupled with ecological and other cross-sectional research. Emphasis is placed on countries and large populations undergoing shifts in nutritional patterns and the associated health consequences that include increased nutrition-related non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and obesity.

Popkin’s research is primarily funded by a large number of National Institute of Health's (NIH) Research Project Grants (better known as R01’s) involving long-term analysis of the economic and physical environment in collaboration with the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study and the UNC Food Research Program, a program that is evaluating the impact of global food company changes in product formulation as it impacts the diets of Americans..

His international research is equally large-scale. Popkin directs longitudinal surveys in China and Russia and is also involved in survey research in other countries, including Brazil, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, India, Norway and the Philippines. He is actively involved at the national and global level in policy formulation for many countries, particularly Mexico and China.

Popkin has published over 390 refereed journal articles, is one of the most cited nutrition scholars in the world and is the author of a book entitled “The World is Fat”(January 2010, Avery-Penguin Publishers), which has been translated into nine languages.

The J. Warren Perry Award and Distinguished Lectureship is the School of Public Health and Health Professions’ lecture series honoring the late J. Warren Perry, PhD, founding dean of the School of Health Related Professions.

Perry, a pioneer in the field of allied health, served as dean from 1966 until his retirement in 1977. A prolific and accomplished scholar, administrator, author and lecturer, he was a national figure in his field and his work had an impact on health care delivery systems throughout the country.

The Perry award and lectureship recognizes individuals who have provided exemplary leadership in public health, health professions or the health sciences. Initiated in 1989 by Dean Alan Stull, PhD, the lectureship introduces students, faculty and staff to some of the best leaders and scholars in a variety of fields.