July 7, 2017

The Center for Weight, Eating, and Lifestyle Sciences at Drexel University has officially opened! The July 6th launch event featured remarks by WELL Center director Evan Forman, Provost Brian Blake, Vice Provost for Research Aleister Saunders and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Donna Murasko.

Drexel’s Center for Weight, Eating and Lifestyle Science — the WELL Center — will develop, test and share new behavioral and technological solutions for treating obesity and eating disorders.

The center, which is an expansion of Drexel’s Laboratory for Innovations in Health-Related Behavior Change, is opening at a critical time, says WELL Center Director Evan Forman, PhD, a professor of psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences. Seventy percent of the country is now overweight or obese and half of the population achieves so little physical activity that they are considered sedentary. Moreover, eating disorders, like anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, have serious — even deadly — health consequences. Existing treatments fail to help many patients.

From designing apps that train users to resist urges, to advancing new therapies for patients with bulimia, Forman and his colleagues are seeking unique, evidence-based methods that will create lasting lifestyle changes. Adrienne Juarascio, PhD, an assistant professor in the College of Arts and Sciences, will serve as director of training at the center and Meghan Butryn, PhD, an associate professor in the College of Arts and Sciences, will be director of research.

Learn more about the WELL Center

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