Directs UNC’s Interdisciplinary Center for Obesity. Developed the concept of the nutrition transition. Uses his long-term longitudinal cohort studies in the US, China, Russia, others in Brazil, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates to examine the factors underlying both dietary and physical activity/inactivity patterns and their effects on health. Heads multiple NIH grants to study contextual, household, and individual change and how affects diet, activity and obesity in 2 US studies—National Longitudinal Study of Adol Health, CARDIA, and his international studies. Also does a extensive research on US dietary patterns and trends. Published more than 290+ journal articles. Author of a Penguin book The World Is Fat ( Dec 24, 2008). Involved in research on national nutrition programs and policies in United States, China, and Mexico, among others. As part of this he is a member of the Choices International Scientific Steering Committee, involved with simplified food labeling globally. He is working on this and a range of obesity prevention-related policies in many countries at present.