John P. Foreyt, PhD

My primary research interests include the development of effective cognitive-behavioral, strategies for achieving and maintaining healthy lifestyles to reduce the risk factors for cardiovascular disorders, including diabetes, obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and the metabolic syndrome. Our research studies in the Behavioral Medicine Research Center focus on efforts to improve methods to reduce body weight in individuals with obesity, blood pressure in patients with hypertension, A1c in individuals with diabetes, and lipid levels in patients with dyslipidemia. Because minority groups are oftentimes at especially high risk for type 2 diabetes and other cardiovascular diseases, I am especially interested in focusing on African-American and Hispanic-American individuals. For example, I am the principal investigator of the Baylor site for the “Look AHEAD: Action for Health in Diabetes” trial supported by NIH-NIDDK and other NIH Institutes. The Look AHEAD trial currently is in its 19th year and is scheduled to finish in 2021. Other examples of NIH-funded grants the I have served as principal investigator include “Cuidando el Corazon: Weight Reduction for Mexican-Americans” (NHLBI); Unidos en Salud: Weight Loss for Mexican-Americans (NIDDK); and “Long-term Outcome of Obesity Treatment in Minority Women: Black American Lifestyle Intervention (NIDDK and the Office of Minority Health).