Mark Pereira, PhD, MPH
Professor, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health

Contact Info
PhD, Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh
MPH, Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh
MS, Exercise Science University of Massachusetts
BS, Exercise Science University of Massachusetts
Summary
My research focuses on the cause and epidemiology of type 2 diabetes, which is a costly, debilitating, and prevalent disease, yet it is highly preventable. My interest has long been steeped in the role of physical activity and nutrition in the prevention of type 2 diabetes and related cardiometabolic risk factors. Because of their close relation to type 2 diabetes, my work also involves investigations into obesity and cardiovascular disease.
Expertise
Chronic diseases, food & nutrition, genetics, exercise, nutrition, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, physical activity, epidemiology
Awards & Recognition
Research
Research Funding Grants
- 2015–2019, NIH/NCI, "Stand and Move at Work: A Randomized Group Trial," Principal Investigator
- 2015–2017, NIH/NHLBI, "Novel Analysis of Abdominal Computed Tomography Data in CARDIA," Principal Investigator
- 2014–2017, Minnesota Department of Transportation, "Assessing the Economic Impact and Health Effects of Bicycling in Minnesota," Co-Investigator
Publications
See recent publications at PubMed
Select Recent Publications
- Buman MP, Mullane SL, Toledo MJ, Rydell SA, Gaesser GA, Crespo NC, Hannan P, Feltes L, Vuong B, Pereira MA. "An intervention to reduce sitting and increase light-intensity physical activity at work: Design and rationale of the 'Stand & Move at Work' group randomized trial," Contemporary Clinical Trials, Feb 2017
- Whitaker KM, Odegaard AO, Jacobs DR Jr, Sidney S, Pereira MA. "Sedentary Behavior, Physical Activity, and Abdominal Adipose Tissue Deposition," Medicine & Science in Sports an Exercise, Oct 2016
- Drehmer M, Pereira MA, Schmidt MI, Del Carmen B Molina M, Alvim S, Lotufo PA, Duncan BB. "Associations of dairy intake with glycemia and insulinemia, independent of obesity, in Brazilian adults: the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil)," American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, April 2015
- Pereira MA. "Sugar-sweetened and artificially-sweetened beverages in relation to obesity risk," Advances in Nutrition, Nov 2014
- Odegaard AO, Koh WP, Yuan JM, Gross MD, Pereira MA. "Dietary patterns and mortality in a Chinese population," American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Sept 2014
Teaching
Courses
- PubH 6348, Writing Research Grants
- PubH 6389, Nutritional Epidemiology
- PubH 6910, Critical Review of Research in Public Health Nutrition
Media
U of MN Health Sciences Expert Link
In The News
SPH News
- Cyclists Have Fewer Heart Disease and Diabetes Risk Factors
- Cycling Reduces Heart Disease and Diabetes Risk
- Cycling Saves Lives and Money in MN
- Watching TV an Other Sedentary Behaviors Linked to Increased Belly Fat
- Pereira Editorial Questions Study Linking Maternal Consumption of Artificially Sweetened Beverages with High Infant BMI
- Tracking Daily Activity to Understand Movement
In the Media
- Should you eat breakfast? Finally, a straight answer (Men's Health)
- Here's More Evidence Obesity Can Shorten Your Life (HealthDay)
- Skipping breakfast is not a good idea in the long run, study finds (StarTribune)
- Diet soda mixed with pregnancy might be a recipe for childhood obesity, study suggests. Los Angeles Times, Fox News, Washington Newswire, Huffington Post, Health Magazine
- Cycling in Minnesota creates thousands of jobs and cuts health-care spending, state report concludes. Star Tribune
- Scientists have found another reason we should be drinking more whole milk. Washington Post