Hu's research has focused on diet/lifestyle, metabolic, and genetic determinants of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease (CVD).

[18] In addition, Dr. Hu has been collaborating with researchers from China to study nutrition transition, metabolic phenotypes, and cardiovascular disease in Chinese populations.

Hu has conducted extensive research on sugar-sweetened beverages and the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

[27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35] Dr. Hu is a recipient of the Kelly West Award for Outstanding Achievement in Epidemiology from the American Diabetes Association in 2010.

[36][37] He served on the IOM Committee on Preventing the Global Epidemic of Cardiovascular Disease: Meeting the Challenges in Developing Countries (2009-2010),[38] and the AHA/ACC Obesity Guidelines Expert Panel (2008-2013).