The John Hancock Center for Physical Activity and Nutrition ( the Hancock Center) at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy was established in 1999. The goal of the Hancock Center is to develop sound exercise and nutrition programs, influence public policy, and promote physical activity nationally and internationally. Faculty and staff at the Hancock Center develop, implement, and evaluate programs designed to help people adopt lifelong, health-promoting habits. In addition, faculty members help to generate and refine public policies that increase physical activity and improve nutrition in the United States and abroad. Faculty and staff at the Hancock Center work closely with other centers within the Friedman School.
More than 70 percent of Americans are not regularly active. In fact, 25 percent are not active at all. This sedentary way of life often contributes to obesity and leaves people so out of shape that they have difficulty with day-to-day activities – from carrying groceries to climbing a few flights of stairs. Many of these people accept weakness, physical decline, and osteoporosis as normal consequences of aging. But at the Hancock Center, we disagree. Our research shows that the deterioration so often attributed to aging is neither inevitable nor irreversible.
The John Hancock Center for Physical Activity and Nutrition is comprised of highly skilled faculty with expertise in diverse areas including exercise physiology, nutrition, public health, arthritis, children’s fitness, and communications. Through the Center, this world-class team will be able to reach national and international audiences with programs designed to motivate people of all ages and cultural backgrounds to enjoy exercise throughout their lives. At the Center, Tufts experts will use global technologies, such as the Internet and teleconferencing, to bring their message to consumers, health professionals, and community organizations. They will also train students and other professionals working in the health sciences to implement effective programs that promote physical activity.
Mission Statement
Our mission is to improve physical activity and nutrition behaviors of the population through the advancement and dissemination of knowledge from research in the areas of bio-behavioral, social, and environmental change.
To accomplish our mission, we:
- Conduct original research
- Train future leaders in the field
- Inform and influence public policy
- Disseminate evidence-based information globally
We develop and foster strategic partnerships with communities, states, schools, and public health agencies and advocates to promote positive and sustainable behavior change to improve the health of populations. Our team collaborates using a multidisciplinary research and educational approach. We value the experience and expertise of every member of the Center and actively encourage their personal and professional development.