About

Challenge

Rates of obesity continue to increase in every country worldwide, and over 40% of adults and 19% of children in the U.S. now have obesity. Obesity is a serious, global health concern because it increases the risk of premature death and serious health problems, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and stroke, and has also been linked to harmful discrimination, stigmatization, and bullying. While obesity for the individual results from positive energy balance, the drivers of obesity operate at multiple interacting levels, and include genetics, the family environment, community, and society.

Why Tufts?

Tufts has over 40 faculty members at the university and medical center, along with graduate students, who are conducting obesity research from basic science to societal solutions. In particular, our strengths in intervention research, biomedical sciences, active citizenship, and global connections are components that Tufts uniquely offers and are critical to building an innovative obesity collaborative. Together, Tufts University and Tufts Medical Center, with their strengths in obstetrics, pediatrics, and obesity treatment, play a central role in preventing and reversing obesity to create a healthier, more productive population with important benefits for local communities, global economies, and planetary health.

Mission

TIGOR conducts cutting-edge research to inform and scale effective interventions to reduce obesity in the US and worldwide. Out work will advance health equity for all and provide outstanding training for the next generation of researchers.

Vision

TIGOR envisions a world where high impact discoveries in obesity research drive new solutions to improve health outcomes and health equity across the lifespan in the US and across the globe.

Inclusion

TIGOR places utmost importance on diversity and inclusion. TIGOR promotes avoidance of weight bias and stigmatization, including through use of appropriate, sensitive, and respectful language and images.

Resources

Here are resources for researchers and community members in support of solutions to the global obesity crisis and measurable impact.

See Resources