Kim M. Gans

Professor

Research Overview

Dr. Gans research focuses on interventions in community-based settings with diverse populations to improve eating habits, increase physical activity, reduce food insecurity and prevent/control obesity. She has created innovative health communication technologies to change behavior and she studies interventions to improve home, work and neighborhood environments and how these interventions interface with behavior change interventions to enhance obesity prevention. Another emphasis is on translational research to study the dissemination of effective interventions to various community and clinical settings.

Current research includes: a). a project to improve the eating habits of Southeast Asian children using financial incentives for grocery stores and/or group education and text messages for families; b.) Healthy  Start/Comienzos, a clinical trial recruiting family childcare providers and parents of young children to work together to improve the diet of a child by providing healthier foods both in the childcare setting and at home; c). testing the effectiveness of an enhanced Home-Delivered Meals (HDM) service delivery approach that includes community health worker (CHW) interactions and supplemental healthy grocery bags to address diet quality, food and nutrition security, loneliness, and health-related quality of life for older adults;  d). evaluating a novel home-based intervention to improve the diet quality and family food environment of low-income, ethnically diverse preschool children; e). a study of digitally delivered modules focused on preventing the development of obesity during the first year of life within an existing statewide home visitation program; and f).  a project examining implementation factors related to produce prescription programs in the U.S.

Kim’s research interests include:

  • Healthy eating/nutrition
  • Obesity prevention and treatment
  • Food security and food access
  • Physical activity
  • Food is medicine interventions
  • Interventions in childcare settings
  • Community-engaged research
  • Innovative technology for behavior change
  • Worksite, school and home-based interventions
  • Low income and ethnic minority populations
  • Food environments/food access/food as medicine
  • Translational/dissemination research
  • Health literacy
  • Physician education/training
  • Dietary assessment

 Education

Duke University, Biology, B.S., 1983
University of North Carolina, Master’s in Public Health, 1985
University of Rhode Island, Biological Sciences (Nutrition), Ph.D., 1992

Selected Publications since 2021

      1. Cooksey Stowers K, Marfo NYA, Gurganus EA, Gans KM, Kumanyika SK, Schwartz MB. The hunger-obesity paradox: Exploring food banking system characteristics and obesity inequities among food-insecure pantry clients. PLoS One. 2020;15(10):e0239778. Published 2020 Oct 21. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0239778 PMCID: PMC7577435 PMID: 33085685
      2. Ramirez, A.; Vadiveloo, M.; Risica, P.M.; Gans, K.M.; Greaney, M.L.; Mena, N.Z.; Cooksey Stowers, K.; Tovar, A. Dietary Contributors to Food Group Intake in Preschool Children Attending Family Childcare Homes: Differences between Latino and Non-Latino Providers. November 2020, 12, 3686. PMID: 33260442; PMCID: PMC7761496
      3. Kang, A.W., Gans, K.M., Minkel, J. & Risica, P.M. (2020). Effects of Coparenting Quality, Stress, and Sleep Parenting on Sleep and Obesity among Latinx Children: A Path Analysis. J Pediatr Health Care. . Nov-Dec 2020;34(6):e77-e90. PMID: 32891498
      4. Risica PM, Nelson T, Kumanyika SK, Camacho Orona K, Bove G, Odoms-Young AM, Gans KM. Emotional Eating Predicts Weight Regain Among Black Women in the SisterTalk Intervention. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2021 Jan;29(1):79-85. doi: 10.1002/oby.23045. PMID: 34494370; PMCID: PMC8672458.
      5. Gans K, Dulin A, Palomo V, Benitez T, Dunsiger S, Dionne L, Champion G, Edgar R, Marcus B. A Tailored Web- and Text-Based Intervention to Increase Physical Activity for Latino Men: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial. JMIR Res Protoc 2021 Jan 29;10(1):e23690. PMCID: PMC7880809
      6. Risica PM, McCarthy ML, Barry KL, Oliverio SP, Gans KM, De Groot AS. Clinical outcomes of a community clinic-based lifestyle change program for prevention and management of metabolic syndrome: Results of the ‘Vida Sana/Healthy Life’ program. PLoS One. 2021 Apr 1;16(4):e0248473. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248473. PMID: 33793595; PMCID: PMC8016241
      7. Kang AW, Gans KM, von Ash T, Castagneri D, Dionne L, Tovar A, Risica PM. Physical Activity Levels among Preschool-Aged Children in Family Child Care Homes: A Comparison between Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Children Using Accelerometry. Children (Basel). 2021 Apr 28;8(5):349. doi: 10.3390/children8050349. PMID: 33924912; PMCID: PMC8145521
      8. Kang, A.W. Gans, K.M., Minkel, J. & Risica, P.M. (2021) Correlates of objectively measured physical activity and sleep among Latinx Children. Journal of Pediatric Nursing. Volume 60, September–October 2021, Pages 40-45; PMID: 33618176;  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2021.01.010
      9. Jiang Q, Tovar A, Risica PM, Cooksey Stowers K, Schwartz M, Lombardi C, Kang A, Mena NZ, Gans KM. Ethnic Differences in Family Childcare Providers’ Nutrition- and Activity-Related Attitudes and Barriers. J Obes. 2021 Oct 7;2021:6697006. doi: 10.1155/2021/6697006. PMID: 34659829; PMCID: PMC8516587
      10. Gans KM, Jiang Q, Tovar A, Kang A, McCardle M, Risica PM. Physical Activity and Screen Time Practices of Family Child Care Providers: Do They Meet Best Practice Guidelines? Child Obes. 2021 Dec 1. doi: 10.1089/chi.2021.0094. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34851731
      11. Von Ash T, Risica PM, Tovar A, Gans KM. An Observational Assessment of Sleep Environments in Family Child Care Homes. International Journal of Epidemiology and Public Health Research. 2021 1(5)
      12. Dulin A, Mealy R, Whittaker S, Cardel M, Wang J, Risica PM, Gans K. Identifying Barriers to and Facilitators of Using a Mobile Fruit and Vegetable Market Intervention Delivered to Low-Income Housing Sites: A Concept Mapping Study. Health Educ Behav. 2022 Feb;49(1):159-168. doi: 10.1177/1090198121998287. Epub 2021 Mar 17. PMID: 33729024; PMCID: PMC8446086
      13. Karen McCurdy, Kim M. Gans, Patricia Markham Risica, Katelyn Fox, and Alison Tovar.. Food insecurity, food parenting practices, and child eating behaviors among low-income Hispanic families of young children. Appetite. 2022 Feb 1;169:105857. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2021.105857. PMID: 34896386; PMCID: PMC8748423
      14. Kim M. Gans , Alison Tovar, Augustine Kang, Dianne S. Ward, Kristen Cooksey Stowers, Tayla von Ash, Laura Dionne, George D. Papandonatos, Noereem Mena, Qianxia Jiang and Patricia M. Risica. A multi‑component tailored intervention in family childcare homes improves diet quality and sedentary behavior of preschool children compared to an attention control: results from the Healthy Start‑Comienzos Sanos cluster randomized trial. International Journal of Nutrition and Physical Activity. 2022 Apr 15;19(1):45. doi: 10.1186/s12966-022-01272-6. PMID: 35428298; PMCID: PMC9013065
      15. Evans EW, Lyerly R, Gans KM, Alexander Scott N, Cohen ED, Lawson E, Nunn A. Translating Research-Funded Mobile Produce Market Trials Into Sustained Public Health Programs: Food on the Move. Public Health Rep. 2022 May-Jun;137(3):425-430. doi: 10.1177/00333549211012409. Epub 2021 May 3. PMID: 33940983
      16. Mendoza-Vasconez AS, Benitez T, Dunsiger S, Gans KM, Hartman SJ, Linke SE, Larsen BA, Pekmezi D, Marcus BH. Pasos Hacia La Salud II: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial of a theory- and technology-enhanced physical activity intervention for Latina women, compared to the original intervention. Trials. 2022 Aug 1;23(1):621. PMID: 35915473; PMCID: PMC9341151.
      17. Risica, PM, Karpowicz JM, von Ash T, Gans KM, Cooksey-Stowers K, Tovar A. Feeding and Activity Environments for Infants and Toddlers in Childcare Centers and Family Childcare Homes in Southeastern New England International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2022, 19, no. 15: 9702. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159702.
      18. Mobley AR, Gans KM, Adamsons K, Huedo-Medina TB. Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Outcomes of a Father-Focused Childhood Obesity Prevention Program for Low-Income Families with Preschool-Age Children. Child Obes. 2023 Jan;19(1):13-24. doi: 10.1089/chi.2021.0225. Epub 2022 Mar 11. PMID: 35275734.
      19. Tovar A, Fox K, Gans KM, Markham Risica P, Papandonatos GD, Ramirez A, Gorin AA, von Ash T, Jennings E, Bouchard K, McCurdy K. Results from the Strong Families Start at Home/Familias Fuertes Comienzan en Casa: feasibility randomised control trial to improve the diet quality of low-income, predominantly Hispanic/Latinx children. Public Health Nutr. 2023 Jan 24;26(4):1-15. doi: 10.1017/S1368980023000174. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36691686; PMCID: PMC10131154.
      20. Fox K, Vadiveloo M, McCurdy K, Risica PM, Gans KM, Tovar A. Control and Chaos: Caregiver’s Basic Psychological Need Frustration is Associated With the Socioemotional Climate When Feeding. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2023 May;55(5):363-370. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2023.02.002. Epub 2023 Mar 8. PMID: 36898869; PMCID: PMC10351395 Finalist for the 2024 Best Research Brief Award in July 2024
      21. Jiang Q, Risica PM, Tovar A, Cooksey Stowers K, Schwartz MB, Lombardi C, Gans K. Nutrition Practices of Family Child Care Home Providers and Children’s Diet Quality. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2023 May 26:S1499-4046(23)00059-3. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2023.03.005. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37245146.
      22. Zeldman J, Varela EG, Gorin AA, Gans KM, Gurka MJ, Bernier AV, Mobley AR. Home Visitation Program Staff Attitudes and Intentions Towards Using Digital Technology to Educate Families About Preventing Early Childhood Obesity: A Qualitative Study. Matern Child Health J. 2023 Nov;27(11):1905-1913. doi: 10.1007/s10995-023-03731-3. Epub 2023 Jun 5. PMID: 37273139; PMCID: PMC10241118.
      23. Jiang, Q., Risica, P., Tovar, A., Cooksey-Stowers, K., Schwartz, M., Lombardi, C., Alhassan, S., & Gans, K. Effect of Applying Best Practices for Physical Activity and Screen Time to Family Childcare Homes. July 2023 Preventing Chronic Disease20(4) DOI: 5888/pcd20.220325
      24. Jiang Q, Risica PM, Tovar A, Cooksey Stowers K, Schwartz MB, Lombardi C, Gans KM. Mediation of the association between social environmental characteristics of family childcare home and weight status in children by diet quality. BMC Public Health. 2023 Nov 21;23(1):2301. doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-17179-1. PMID: 37990180; PMCID: PMC10664465.
      25. Dulin AJ, Dunsiger S, Benitez T, Larsen B, Marcus BH, Champion G, Gans KM. The Hombres Saludables Physical Activity Web-Based and Mobile Phone Intervention: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial With Latino Men. J Med Internet Res. 2023 Dec 7;25:e39310. doi: 10.2196/39310. PMID: 38060285; PMCID: PMC10739242.
      26. Ramirez A, Fox K, Melo Herrera Y, Gans KM, Risica PM, McCurdy K, Jennings E, Tovar A. Goals, Barriers, and Facilitators of Caregivers Who Participated in an In-Home Intervention to Improve Food Parenting Practices and Child Diet Quality. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2024 Apr 30:S1499-4046(24)00075-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2024.04.001. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38691079.
      27. Fox, K., Vadiveloo, M., McCurdy, K., Risica, P. M., Gans, K. M., & Tovar, A. Associations Between Child Eating Behavior and Diet Quality and Eating Patterns in Preschool-Aged Children. Appetite. 2024, Volume 202, 1 November 2024, 107621 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2024.107621. Chosen for Best Research Award.
      28. Bunker JN, Gans KM, Smith KC, Thomas KS. Developing and Testing Training Resources to Improve Social Connectedness With Homebound Older Adults Who Receive Home-Delivered Meals. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 2024 Dec 10:7334648241306176. doi: 10.1177/07334648241306176. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39655529.
      29. Zeldman J, Kamuf J, Varela EG, Gorin AA, Gans KM, Gurka MJ, Bernier AV, Mobley AR. Stakeholder Perceptions of Digital Nutrition Education Modules on Infant Feeding in Home Visiting Programs. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2025 Apr;57(4):326-337. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2024.12.008. Epub 2025 Jan 22. PMID: 39846904.
      30. Gans KM, Chacón V, Warykas SW, Baird M, Esquivel V, Zhang S, Tovar A, Ray S, Inman N, McCauley P, Zambrano Rodriguez VC, Miller M, Stekler N, Markham Risica P. Exploring barriers and facilitators to water availability and accessibility, and potential strategies for improving water accessibility and children’s intake in family childcare homes: a qualitative study. Front Nutr. 2025 Mar 12;12:1442070. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2025.1442070. PMID: 40144563; PMCID: PMC11939014.
      31. Kracht CL, Tovar A, Gans KM, Lee RE, Tandon PS, von Ash T, Francis L. How to integrate and leverage digital health modalities for health promotion in early childhood education: Opportunities to improve intervention access and engagement. Transl Behav Med. 2025 Jan 16;15(1):ibaf006. doi: 10.1093/tbm/ibaf006. PMID: 40052536; PMCID: PMC11967918.
      32. Tovar A, Bouchard KL, Moore AM, Perry M*, Lurssen I, Arriola Carnicelli L, Sanchez Contreras A, Risica P, von Ash T, Savage JS, Dunsiger S, Gans K. Strong Families Start at Home/Familias Fuertes Comienzan en Casa-Improving Child Diet Quality and Parental Feeding Practices: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Res Protoc. 2025 Sep 10;14:e73923. doi: 10.2196/73923. PMID: 40929716; PMCID: PMC12461172.
      33. Costa da Silva IL*, Gans KM, Thomas KS, Gutman R, Tyler B, Ray S, Grady M, DeFelice S, Hussein M, Lusi A, Caspi CE. A study protocol for a randomized controlled trial evaluating the impact of adding community health worker coaching calls and healthy grocery bag deliveries to a Meals on Wheels home-delivered meal program for homebound older adults in Rhode Island. BMC Public Health. 2025 Oct 1;25(1):3285. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-24080-6. PMID: 41034808.
      34. Elsaesser C, Proulx J, Vasquez Reyes M, Kalinowski J, Santiago J, Roman-Hampton V, Courts CL, Gans KM. Codesigning a mindfulness-based intervention with community violence intervention workers and youth: The power of participatory research. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry. 2026 Mar 2.
      35. Francis L, Kracht CL, Chen W, Perrin NA, Gans KM, von Ash T, Lee RE, Tovar A. A mixed-methods examination of early care and education providers’ routine and pandemic use of digital technology for nutrition training: Insights for digital nutrition training policies and practices. Digital Health. 2026 Mar 9;12:20552076261431595. doi: 10.1177/20552076261431595. PMID: 41815102; PMCID: PMC12972561.
      36. Dulin A, Tovar A, Dunsiger S, Carey KB, Gans KM. Protocol for the Southeast Asian Healthy Habits, Healthy Kids (SEAHK) study, a culturally tailored family-based pilot randomized controlled trial to improve dietary quality. Pilot Feasibility Stud. 2026 Jun 11. doi: 10.1186/s40814-026-01863-1. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42277916.

      Complete List of Published Work in MyBibliography (145 publications):
      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/kim.gans.1/bibliography/public/

       

       

       

      Headshot, Kim Gans
      Contact Information
      Emailkim.gans@uconn.edu
      Phone860 486 3865
      Mailing Address348 Mansfield Road, U-1058 Storrs, CT 06269-1058 USA
      Office LocationRoom 330