Dianne Neumark-Sztainer, PhD, MPH

My research focuses on the prevention and reduction of weight-related problems, including obesity, poor dietary intake, inadequate physical activity, disordered eating behaviors, and body dissatisfaction. My qualitative, epidemiological, and intervention research has primarily focused on young people from ethnically/racially diverse and low-income backgrounds. As the Principal Investigator for the Project EAT studies, I lead a team of researchers who have greatly contributed to what we know about eating and weight-related problems in young people. More recently, I have begun to explore the potential for using yoga as a tool for addressing weight-related problems. 

As Head of the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health I have overall responsibility for ensuring that our faculty are engaging in state-of-the art research that is highly relevant in terms of addressing important public health concerns. Additionally, I am responsible for ensuring that our various training programs prepare our students to go out into the world with the skills and the passion to meet the health needs of the public. In the division, we are dedicated to ensuring that our research is being translated into action, and that our teaching program is highly relevant and applicable, in order to ensure that we are building a healthier future for all.

• Award in Clinical, Administrative, or Education Service, Academy for Eating Disorders, 2019
• NIH Outstanding Investigator, 2018
• Member, AHC Academy for Excellence in Health Research, 2017
• Member, Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health
• Mayo Professor of Public Health, School of Public Health, 2016
• Thompson Reuters Highly Cited Researcher, 2014
• Leonard M. Schuman Award for Excellence in Teaching, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, 2012
• Leadership Award in Research: Academy for Eating Disorders, 2010
• Distinguished Women Scholars Award in Humanities, Social Sciences and Arts: University of Minnesota, 2009

More Information on Select Projects

• Project EAT
• New Moves
• Yoga May Help Prevent Weight Gain Over

• 1/19/2018-11/30/2024, National Institutes of Health, NHLBI, Eating, Activity, and Weight-Related Problems Across the Life Course in Diverse Populations, Principal Investigator
• 1/25/2016-12/31/2019, National Institutes of Health, NHLBI, "EAT 2010-2018: A Longitudinal, Multi-Contextual Study of Weight-Related Problems," Principal Investigator 
  Read press release
• 8/12/13-6/30/17, National Institutes of Health, NHLBI, "Project EAT-IV: Eating and Activity in Adolescents and Young Adults," Principal Investigator
• 12/1/14-11/30/19, National Institutes of Health, NHLBI, "Addressing Unanswered Questions About the Home Environment and Childhood Obesity Disparities," Co-Investigator
• 7/1/12-6/30/17, Department of Health and Human Services, HRSA, "Leadership Education in Adolescent Health," Training Faculty/Co-Investigator
• 4/1/10-4/30/20, National Institutes of Health, NIDDK-Ruth L. Kirschtein National Research Service Award, "Minnesota Obesity Prevention Training (MnOPT)," Program Faculty/Mentor

See a full list of my publications on PubMed

Books

• “I’m, Like, SO Fat!”: Helping Your Teen Make Healthy Choices about Eating and Exercise in a Weight Obsessed World." New York: The Guilford Press, 2005.

Select Publications

• Neumark-Sztainer D, Wall MM, Choi J, Barr-Anderson DJ, Telke S, Mason SM. "Exposure to adverse events and associations with stress levels and the practice of yoga: Survey findings from a population-based study of diverse emerging young adults." Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. In press.
• Piran, N. Neumark-Sztainer D. "Yoga and the experience of embodiment: A discussion of possible links." Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention. 2020; Jan 10. [Epub ahead of print].
• Neumark-Sztainer D, MacLehose RF, Watts AW, Pacanowski C, Eisenberg ME. "Yoga and body image: Findings from a large population-based study of young adults." Body Image. 2018;24:69-75.
• Neumark-Sztainer D, Wall MM, Chen C, Larson N, Christoph M, Sherwood N. "Eating, activity, and weight-related problems from adolescence to adulthood." American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2018;55(2):133-141.
  Neumark-Sztainer D, Watts A, Rydell S. "Yoga and body image: How do young adults practicing yoga describe its impact on their body image." Body Image. 2018; 27:156-168.
• Neumark-Sztainer D, MacLehose RF, Watts AW, Eisenberg ME, Laska MN, Larson N. "How is the practice of yoga related to weight status? Population-based findings from Project EAT-IV." Journal of Physical Activity and Health. 2017:14(12):905-912.