Dr. Barry Michael Popkin stands as a preeminent authority in global nutrition and obesity research with a distinguished academic career spanning five decades. He serves as the W. R. Kenan, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Nutrition and Carla Smith Chamblee Distinguished Professor of Global Nutrition at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he founded both the Division of Nutrition Epidemiology and the UNC Interdisciplinary Obesity Center with NIH funding. Holding a PhD in economics from the University of Wisconsin, his unique interdisciplinary background has positioned him at the forefront of understanding the complex relationship between economic systems and dietary patterns. Dr. Popkin's academic leadership extends through his role as founder and director of the Global Food Research Program, which has become an influential hub for evidence-based nutrition policy development worldwide.
Dr. Popkin pioneered the transformative concept of the Nutrition Transition, which systematically examines how environmental and economic shifts affect dietary intake, physical activity patterns, and the global rise of obesity and non-communicable diseases. His groundbreaking research has established foundational frameworks for understanding how globalization, urbanization, and food system transformations impact population health across diverse socioeconomic contexts. With authorship of over 650 peer-reviewed journal articles and the critically acclaimed book The World is Fat, translated into a dozen languages, his scholarly contributions have reshaped international perspectives on obesity as a systemic public health challenge. His work has been particularly instrumental in demonstrating how fiscal policies, including sugar-sweetened beverage taxes, can effectively influence dietary behaviors and reduce obesity prevalence in populations.
Beyond his academic contributions, Dr. Popkin has played a pivotal role in elevating nutrition policy to the global health agenda, advising numerous national governments and international agencies on evidence-based regulatory approaches to combat obesity. He has led influential collaborative research evaluating the impact of sugar-sweetened beverage taxation in Mexico and similar policy interventions across multiple countries including Chile, Brazil, Colombia, and South Africa. Recognized with prestigious honors including the World Obesity Society's Population Science and Public Health Award and the UK Rank Science Prize, his work continues to shape international nutrition policy frameworks. Currently working with eight additional countries to develop and implement regulatory policies targeting unhealthy food environments, Dr. Popkin remains committed to translating rigorous scientific evidence into actionable public health strategies that address the global nutrition transition.
