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.

• 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

• 1/25/2016-12/31/2019, 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. "Eating disorders prevention: Looking backward, moving forward; looking inward, moving outward." Eating Disorders. 2016;24(1):29-38.
• Neumark-Sztainer D. "Yoga and eating disorders: is there a place for yoga in the prevention and treatment of eating disorders and disordered eating behaviours?" Advances in Eating Disorders. 2014;2(2):136-45. 
• Neumark-Sztainer D, Larson NI, Fulkerson JA, Eisenberg ME, Story M. "Family meals and adolescents: what have we learned from Project EAT (Eating Among Teens)?" Public Health Nutrition. 2010;13(7):1113-21. 
• Neumark-Sztainer D, Friend SE, Flattum CF, Hannan PJ, Story MT, Bauer KW, Feldman SB, Petrich CA. "New Moves--Preventing weight-related problems in adolescent girls a group-randomized study," American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2010;39(5):421-32. 
• Neumark-Sztainer D. "Preventing obesity and eating disorders in adolescents: What can health care providers do?" Journal of Adolescent Health. 2009;44(3):206-13.