Harvard School of Public Health Prevention Research Center

Working with Communities to Improve Nutrition & Physical Activity

The mission of the Harvard School of Public Health Prevention Research Center (HPRC) is to work with communities, community agencies, state and local government, and other partners to develop, implement, and evaluate methodologies and interventions to improve nutrition and physical activity and reduce overweight and chronic disease risk among children, youth, and their families and to reduce and eliminate disparities in these outcomes.

The HPRC is part of a national network of 37 Prevention Research Centers funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Since 1998, the HPRC has participated in drawing national attention to the need for replicable, effective strategies to improve nutrition and physical activity and prevent obesity using a social ecological perspective. Together with our community partners, HPRC faculty and staff have launched groundbreaking work in school, community, clinical, and work site settings. We disseminate models, materials, and curricula in our partner communities and states, as well as nationally and internationally. Our focus populations are children, youth, and working families in Boston, Massachusetts, and Maine.

Prevention Research Centers, designated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, constitute a network of academic, community, and public health partners that conducts applied public health research. PRCs create health promotion and disease prevention strategies that work and can bring long-term benefits to communities. PRCs also offer training and technical assistance to the public health community.

Lancet article on cost-effective obesity interventions

“By imposing tax on sugar-sweetened beverages and limiting marketing of unhealthy foods to children, governments can lead in making it easier for children to make healthy choices,” said lead author Steven Gortmaker, Director of the HPRC and professor of the practice of health sociology at Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) in a new paper published in the August 25, 2011 edition of The Lancet. The paper is part of a special Lancet series on obesity.

Endorsements for HPRC Projects

The Guide to Community Preventive Services cites both Planet Health and Eat Well & Keep Moving studies in recommending behavioral interventions to reduce screen time. The Task Force determined that there is sufficient evidence that these behavioral interventions are effective in reducing measured screen time and improving weight-related outcomes in kids and adolescents. A list of the studies reviewed can be found here. More information on how interventions are reviewed can be found here. Planet Health is also recommended by Cancer Control P.L.A.N.E.T. as a research-tested intervention program to reduce obesity among young children and adolescents.

Food & Fun materials

Check out the Food & Fun project page for lessons, communication materials, and planning guides for improving nutrition and physical activity in out of school time programs, including materials for parents and families

Sample Lessons available

Links to sample lessons from the Harvard Prevention Research Center's middle school curriculum, Planet Health, and elementary school curriculum, Eat Well & Keep Moving, are now available. Both interdisciplinary programs are designed to promote healthy eating and physical activity.

 The Harvard Prevention Research Center is a member of the Prevention Research Centers Program, supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cooperative agreement number 1-U48-DP-001946.