Jyu-Lin Chen, RN, PhD, FAAN
Professor
Family Health Care Nursing
School of Nursing

415-502-6015

My research on childhood obesity prevention addresses a preventable global health problem and one with important implications for global health nursing research and practice. Childhood obesity is one of the most serious global public health challenges of the 21st century.

Show full bio (250 words) Hide full bio

Approximately 170 million children (aged less than 18 years) worldwide are overweight and about 31 million of these are living in low and middle-income countries (LMIC). The increased prevalence of childhood obesity is 30% higher in LMIC (such as China, Hong Kong and Taiwan) than that of developed countries. Dr. Chen’s program of research addresses this critical global health threat as it focuses on childhood obesity prevention and healthy lifestyle promotion in children in Asian Pacific regions and Chinese immigrants in the U.S. Chinese Americans, as the 2nd largest immigrant population in the U.S., are experiencing an increased prevalence of childhood obesity (31%) and a higher risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes compared to non-Hispanic white populations. Additionally, about 33% of obese Chinese American children (age 6 to 18) already have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Working for the last 13 years in global health research, I have built the knowledge base pertaining to obesity prevention in Chinese children and immigrant Chinese children through a series of 15 research studies. I have mentored matriculated and special studies students from various countries including China, Korea, Japan, India, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Thailand. Many of their research topics are related to health disparities among minority populations and several students conducted research in their country of origin. My research work and passion about global health, especially in Asian countries, has attracted several students and fellows who are also interested in this region or immigrants from these countries.

Awards

Show all (4) Hide

  • Fulbright Senior Research Scholar, Department of State, 2016
  • Mentor of the Year Award, UCSF School of Nursing Graduating Class of 2016, 2016
  • Distinguished Alumni Awards, Meiho College of Nursing, Taiwan, 2015
  • Fellow, The American Academy of Nursing, 2014

Education & Training

Show all (3) Hide

  • Ph.D. Nursing University of California, San Francisco 2002
  • MSN Nursing University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 1997
  • BSN Nursing University of Dubuque, Dubuque, IA 1995

Interests

Show all (10) Hide

  • behavior intervention
  • Chinese
  • weight management
  • bio-psychosocial responses
  • childhood obesity
  • Chinese American
  • culture
  • Global health nursing
  • coping
  • family intervention

Publications (90)

Top publication keywords:
Diabetes, GestationalDiabetes Mellitus, Type 2Pediatric ObesityMother-Child RelationsRural PopulationWeight Reduction ProgramsMothersObesityChinaSelf EfficacyObesity, AbdominalAcculturationLife StyleHealth BehaviorExercise

Show all (85 more) Hide