Kennesaw State Researcher Receives National Institutes of Health Grant to Study Health Factors Associated with Obesity

KENNESAW, GA | November 1, 2024

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reported that obesity is prevalent in more than 40 percent of U.S. adults. To combat this, Kennesaw State University assistant professor Liang Zhao intends to use artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to study the health determinants that lead to obesity in rural areas.

Zhao’s research, supported by a $51,747 National Institutes of Health (NIH) AIM-AHEAD grant, examines the social determinants of health, or SDOH. These determinants account for up to 70 percent of health outcomes and are important drivers of health inequalities. Social determinants take into account factors such as geographic location, such as living in rural communities. Research shows that obesity rates in rural areas of the United States are approximately 6.2 times higher than in urban areas, which can have a significant impact on health outcomes. The study also examines how these factors relate to widespread obesity in rural communities.

“These numbers show the urgent need to achieve targeted outcomes in rural areas and highlight the changes needed,” said Zhao, who teaches in Kennesaw State’s College of Computer and Software Engineering.

Rural residents often face significant challenges, including limited health care resources. To address obesity disparities, Zhao aims to improve understanding of social determinants of health (SDOH) by using artificial intelligence and machine learning on large datasets from community health records.

One key resource is the OCHIN database, a nonprofit health innovation center that integrates electronic health records and SDOH data from more than six million patients in 33 states. Through this research, Zhao hopes to find evidence that will serve as a basis for policy reforms. Findings will focus on the relationship between SDOH and obesity, providing recommendations for government officials to make policy, structure, and infrastructure changes in rural communities.

“We want to build a model that identifies factors specific to these populations to drive widespread change,” he said.

Shao’en Wu, head of KSU’s Department of Information Technology, praised Zhao’s efforts.

“We are proud to support Professor Zhao and his important research,” said Wu. “His work exemplifies our commitment to solving real problems and improving health outcomes in our communities.”

A key goal of Zhao’s research is to create a predictive model that identifies factors that lead to higher rates of obesity. This is vital for informing policy and improving health services in rural areas, which often lack the resources to comprehensively analyze data.

Rural facilities often suffer from insufficient electronic health records and staffing shortages, which negatively impact patient care. Zhao’s research focuses on using artificial intelligence to automate processes and improve the efficiency of healthcare delivery.

Collaboration is critical to the project. Zhao is affiliated with the AIM Ahead program, Morehouse School of Medicine, and Harvard Medical School; gaining access to experts and community stakeholders.

“Working with other brilliant minds allows us to create innovative solutions for the communities that need them most,” he said.

To evaluate the effectiveness of his research model, Zhao plans to compare the results with real-world data from rural hospitals, aiming to develop a comprehensive AI-enabled system that refines the data using SDOH. This approach ensures that solutions are effective in solving local health problems.

Community participation is another important aspect. Zhao is committed to sharing results through workshops and meetings, promoting discussion among residents and health care providers about treatment outcomes and potential solutions.

Going beyond the current project, Zhao envisions creating a comprehensive rural health network that would include community input while maintaining patient confidentiality.

“If successful, this research could open new doors to funding and initiatives to address greater health inequalities,” Zhao said.

Story by Raynard Churchwell

Photos by Matt Young

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A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia and has 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global connections and entrepreneurial spirit attract students from around the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it in an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with R1 or R2 designation. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.