The Obesity Prevention Center at Saint Louis University's School of Public Health is recognized as a leader in community based obesity prevention. Our goal is to improve the health of the population and advance science through obesity prevention research and practice. The Obesity Prevention Center is committed to the scholarship of discovery reflected in our mission:

• To discover new knowledge through research that integrates social, behavioral, cultural, and physical factors critical to understanding problems, implementing programs, and developing policies designed to prevent obesity;
  
  
• To integrate the expertise of multiple disciplines in pursuit of understanding state of the art means of preventing obesity;
  
  
• To disseminate knowledge regarding obesity prevention by educating and training investigators, health care providers, and community members through innovative teaching methods;
  
  
• To apply this knowledge to the practice of preventing obesity, through partnerships with community and academic collaborators

We operationalize this mission by obtaining funding to advance research into obesity related determinants, and disseminating state of the art information via peer reviewed publications and presentations at national professional meetings.