A study led by PhD student Laura Hooper provides evidence against persistent assumptions that weight teasing and disordered eating primarily affect affluent, white young people.
Epidemiology and Community Health
Using diet pills and laxatives for weight control linked to future diagnosis of an eating disorder
The results of the study by incoming postdoctoral fellow Vivienne Hazzard and Professor Dianne Neumark-Sztainer suggest the use of these products is an early marker of an eating disorder or that they actually serve as risk factors for the illness.
Advocating for antiracism in American health care
MD/MPH student Rohan Khazanchi is the lead author of a Health Affairs post discussing the American Medical Association’s historical role in exacerbating health inequity and the tangible steps the medical community and policymakers can take to stopping racism.
Xiong earns U community service award for work to develop community-engaged research
PhD candidate Serena Xiong was awarded the 2021 student Outstanding Community Service Award by the University’s Office of Public Engagement for her work with the Robert J. Jones Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been linked with six unhealthy eating behaviors
A University of Minnesota Medical School and School of Public Health study shows a slight increase in eating disorders, one of the deadliest psychiatric health concerns.
More research needed on how food insecurity affects parent feeding practices
Faculty Katherine Arlinghaus and Melissa Laska say experiences with food insecurity can influence the behaviors and practices parents use to feed their children — and have long-term consequences for everyone.
Study finds young adults practicing yoga are not immune to societal pressures for thinness and muscularity
The study led by Professor Dianne Neumark-Sztainer found that people who practice yoga were equally or more likely to practice extreme weight control behaviors, binge eating or use steroids and protein powders/shakes to enhance muscles.
How skin tone bias and age affect preterm birth rates of Black women
Assistant Professor Jaime Slaughter-Acey found that Black women with medium to dark brown skin tones were more likely to experience a preterm birth with increasing maternal age as compared to women with light brown complexions.
Emerging adults are struggling with food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic
Lead researcher Nicole Larson says the study results reveal a need to expand food assistance benefits for people ages 18-26 years old, reduce barriers to safely purchasing healthy foods, and other measures.
Analyzing the quality of product nutrition information found on grocery store websites
Student Kelly Olzenak (MPH ’19) looked at the product nutrition information found on 12 grocery shopping sites and found the ease of finding and reading it varied greatly.
Neumark-Sztainer awarded a McKnight Presidential Professorship
The University of Minnesota has awarded School of Public Health (SPH) Professor Dianne Neumark-Sztainer one of its highest faculty honors: a McKnight Presidential Endowed Professorship.
Switching to a plant-centered diet linked to reduced diabetes risk for young adults as they age
PhD student Yuni Choi found that study participants with the greatest increase in plant-centered diet quality scores had a 48% lower risk of Type 2 diabetes compared to those who did not alter their diet.