History and Mission


Mission

The Center for Physical Activity and Weight Management (Center) was created in 2000 with the establishment of The Energy Balance Laboratory (EBL) located in Robinson Center on the Lawrence Campus. The EBL focuses on the balance between energy intake and energy expenditure (calories in/calories out) as ultimately this is the determinant of body weight. The Center opened a second facility located at The University of Kansas Medical Center in 2012 and occupies space located at the Kirmayer Fitness Facility. The Center is funded by The National Institutes of Health and a variety of foundations and industry that support research, education, and clinical programs that promote physical activity, nutrition and weight management. An integral part of the Center is The University of Kansas Weight Management Programs also known as The Weight Control Research Project or WCRP. The WCRP offers clinical research programs for adults that need weight loss and maintenance. These programs provide a variety of diets and exercise programs and teach behavioral strategies that alter lifestyle to assist the individual to lose weight and maintain weight loss.

History

The Center for Physical Activity & Weight Management (Center) is a broad-based initiative that provides research, education, and clinical programs to Kansans and those in the Greater Kansas City area. Promotion of physical activity and nutrition for both children and adults is the primary mission. To this end, a broad array of research, education and clinical programs are conducted at the individual and community levels to provide weight loss and improve weight maintenance. In turn this impacts associated diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and others and also impacts cognitive function, psychological and emotional wellbeing.