Center for Disease Control Projects
The Center for the Promotion of Healthy Lifestyles, formerly known as the Center for the Prevention of Childhood Obesity, originated from a grant awarded by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) titled “An Interdisciplinary Approach to Address Childhood Obesity”. This grant was made possible through the assistance of Congresswomen Loretta Sanchez.


The dramatic increase in childhood obesity over the past decade has become one of the country’s most urgent public health concerns. Recent reports from the CDC estimate that one in three U.S. children will become diabetic, largely due to obesity and inactivity, unless health habits change, with the odds for Hispanic children being closer to one in two. Because the nature of this problem is so complex and intractable, its solution will require a interdisciplinary approach that will include input and planning from a team of professionals with expertise in child development, educational practice, child psychology, family counseling, health promotion, nutrition, exercise science, and in community services and planning.

The interdisciplinary center at California State University, Fullerton builds upon current research, evaluation and intervention work of faculty and community collaborations in Orange County, focusing particularly on the Latino population.  More specifically, the following five projects offer a comprehensive multi-level approach that will inform the design and implementation of current and future programs that are effective for addressing obesity in children, adults, schools and communities.  The proposals are: 

1. Mother’s Decision-Making in Preschoolers’ Nutrition,
2. A Collaborative Model for Healthy Lifestyles in Elementary School Children,
3. Community Based Healthy Lifestyles Intervention for Underserved, At-Risk Youth,
4. Evaluation of ALISA (Active Living In Santa Ana) Physical Activity & Healthy Eating Program
5. Commuting Behaviors, Obesity Risk, and the Built Environment.