Rebecca Puhl

Professor

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Website: www.uconnruddcenter.org

Educational Background:
Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, Yale University, 2004
M.S., Psychology, Yale University, 2001
B.A.H., Psychology, Queen’s University, 1999

Research Interests: 

My research broadly addresses weight-based bullying, bias, and discrimination experienced by children and adults. My work has documented the prevalence and origins of weight bias and discrimination, assessed the pervasiveness and impact of weight stigma in the media, examined the effects of weight bias on emotional and physical health, assessed experiences and health consequences of weight-bullying in youth, tested intervention strategies to reduce weight bias, and studied potential policy and legal remedies to reduce weight discrimination and bullying. You can see more about my work at the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Health.

Selected Publications from the Last 5 Years:

Puhl, R.M. (2025). Facing challenges for reducing weight sigma in public health policy and practice. Annual Review of Public Health, 46, 133-150.

D’Angelo Campos, A., Grummon, A.H., Ng, S.W., Puhl, R.M., Golden, S.D., Hall, M.G. (2025). Front-of-package food labels and perceived weight stigmatization: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Network Open, 8(6):e2516821. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.16821

Holmes-Truscott, E., Litterbach, E., Søholm, U., Agius, P.A., Alzubaidi H., Bodziony, V., Garza, M., Joiner, K.L., Puhl, R.M., et al. (2025). Experiences of diabetes  stigma among adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes: A multi-study, multi-country, secondary analysis.  Diabetic Medicine, e70082. https://doi.org/10.1111/dme.70082

Bennett, B.L., Wagner, A.F., Puhl, R.M., Lamere, A., Latner, J.D. (2025). Feminism and its associations with weight stigma, body image, and disordered eating: A risk or protective factor? Obesities, 5, 40. https://doi.org/10.3390/obesities5020040

Rancaño, K. M., Skeer, M., Puhl, R., Eliasziw, M., & Must, A. (2025). Efficacy of a universal weight Stigma intervention on the quality of parent-child conversations about weight. Journal of Adolescent Health, 76(4), 680–689.

McCauley, P.S., Eaton, L.A., Puhl, R.M., Watson, R.J. (2025). Support from school personnel and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer in-school resources jointly moderate the association between identity-based harassment and depressive symptoms among sexual and gender diverse youth. Journal of Educational Psychology, 117(3), 445–465.

Lessard, L.M., Wu, R., Puhl, R.M., Foster, G.D., Cardel, M.I. (2025). Adolescent experiences of weight-related communication: sociodemographic differences and the role of parents. Pediatric Obesity, 20(2):e13196. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijpo.13196

Forrest, L.N, Bennett, B. L., Beccia, A., Puhl, R., & Watson, R.J. (2025). Prevalence of disordered eating behaviors among sexual and gender minority youth varies at the intersection of gender identity and race/ethnicity. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 58(3):635-646.

Bradford, H.M., Puhl, R.M., Phillippi, J.C., Dietrich, M.S., Neal, J.L (2025). Weight bias in the perinatal period: An integrative review. Birth, 52, 189-206. http://doi.org/10.1111/birt.12870

Pudney, E.M., Puhl, R.M., Schwartz, M.B., Halgunseth, L.C. (2024). The effect of parent targeted obesity messaging on parental weight talk intention: A randomized control experiment. Health Communication, 22:1-12.  https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2024.2386212

Bennett, B.L., Puhl, R.M. (2024). Physicians’ stigmatizing attitudes about individuals with type 2 diabetes: Associations with communication practices and perceived barriers to care.Primary Care Diabetes, 18, 518-524.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcd.2024.07.001

Hooper, L., Lebow, J., Gewirtz O’Brien, J.R., Puhl, R.M., Neumark-Sztainer, D. (2024). Partnerships with primary care providers: Opportunities to prevent eating disorders and mitigate their progression in young people. Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment & Prevention. https://doi.org/10.1080/10640266.2024.2394263

Wu, R., Puhl, R.M., Lessard, L.M., Foster, G.D., Cardel, M.I. (2024). Exploring the interplay of weight-based teasing and sociodemographic factors in adolescent weight bias internalization. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 49(8):547-558.

Rancano, K.M., Puhl, R.M., Skeer, M., Eliasziw, M., Must, A. (2024). Negative familial weight talk and weight bias internalization in early adolescents. Pediatric Obesity. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijpo.13108

Yetsenga R, Banerjee R, Streatfeild J, McGregor K, Austin SB, Lim BWX, Diedrichs PC, Greaves K, Mattei J, Puhl RM, Slaughter-Acey JC, Solanke I, Sonneville KR, Velasquez K, Cheung S. (2024). The economic and social costs of body dissatisfaction and appearance-based discrimination in the United States. Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention. https://doi.org/10.1080/10640266.2024.2328461

Bradford, H.M., Puhl, R.M., Phillippi, J.C., Dietrich, M.S., Neal, J.L (2024). Implicit and explicit weight bias among midwives: Variations across demographic characteristics. Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health, 69, 342-352.

Bradford, H.M., Puhl, R.M., Phillippi, J.C., Dietrich, M.S., Neal, J.L. (2024). Weight bias among certified nurse-midwives and certified midwives: Findings from a national sample. Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health, 69, 333-341.

Lessard, L.M., Puhl, R.M., Foster, G.D., Cardel, M. (2024). Parent-adolescent weight communication: Psychosocial correlates among a diverse national sample. Journal of Health Communication, 29, 167-173.. DOI: 10.1080/10810730.2023.2276797

Rao, A., Puhl, R.M., Farrar, K. (2024). Weight stigma in online news images: A visual content analysis of stigma communication in the depictions of individuals with obesity in U.S. and U.K. news. Journal of Health Communication, 29, 95-106.

Lawrence, S.E., Watson, R.J., Eadeh, H-M., Brown, C., Puhl, R.M., Eisenberg, M.A. (2024). Bias-based bullying, self-esteem, queer identity pride, and disordered eating behaviors among sexually and gender diverse adolescents. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 57, 303-315.

Nutter, S., Eggerichs, L,A., Nagpal,T.S.,…Puhl, R.M., et al. (2024). Changing the global obesity narrative to recognize and reduce weight stigma: A position statement from the World Obesity Federation. Obesity Reviews, 25, e13642. doi:10. 1111/obr.13642

Pudney, E.V., Puhl, R.M., Schwartz, M.B., Halgunseth, L.C. (2024). An examination of parental weight stigma and weight talk among socioeconomically and racially/ethnically diverse parents. Family & Community Health. DOI: 10.1097/FCH.0000000000000384

Lessard, L.M., Puhl, R.M., Foster, G.D., Cardel, M. (2023). Parental communication about body weight and adolescent health: The role of positive and negative comments. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 29, 700-706.   

Bennett, B.L., Puhl, R.M. (2023). Diabetes stigma and weight stigma among physicians treating type 2 diabetes: Overlapping patterns of bias. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 202, 110287. doi: 10.1016/j.diabres.2023.110827

Puhl, R.M., Lessard, L.M., Foster, G.D., Cardel, M.I. (2023). Parent-child communication about weight: Priorities for parental education and support. Pediatric Obesity. e13027. DOI: 10.1111/ijpo.13027

Hooper, L., Puhl, R.M., Eisenberg, M.E., Berge, J.M., Neumark-Sztainer, D. (2023). Can family and parenting factors modify the impact of weight stigma on disordered eating in young people? A population-based longitudinal study. Journal of Adolescent Health.

Lawrence, S.E., Lessard, L.M., Puhl, R.M., Foster, G.D., Cardel, M.I. (2023). “Look beyond the weight and accept me”: Adolescent perspectives on parental weight communication. Body Image, 31,45:11-19.

Panza, G., Puhl, R.M., Taylor, B.A., Cilhoroz, B., Himmelstein, M.S., Fernandez, A.B., Pescatello, L.S. (2022). The effects of an acute weight stigma exposure on    cardiovascular     reactivity among women with obesity and hypertension: A randomized trial. Journal of Psychosomatic Research. 165:111124. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2022.111124.

Pudney, E.V., Puhl, R.M., Halgunseth, L.C., Schwartz, M.B. (2022). Parental reasons for engaging in or avoiding weight talk with children. Childhood Obesity. Doi: 10.1089/chi.2022/0173

Puhl, R.M., Lessard, L.M., Foster, G.D., Cardel, M.I. (2022). Patient and family perspectives on terms for obesity. Pediatrics, 150 (6): e2022058204.

Puhl, R.M., Lessard, L.M., Pudney, E.V., Foster, G.D., Cardel, M.I. (2022). Motivations for engaging in or avoiding conversations about weight: Adolescent and parent perspectives. Pediatric Obesity, 17; e12962. Doi:10.1111/ijpo.12962.

Braun, T.D., Puhl, R.M., Quinn, D.M., Gorin, A., Tishler, D., Papasavas P. (2022). Weight stigma and post traumatic stress disorder symptoms in individals seeking bariatric surgery. Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases, 18(8):1066-1073.

Hooper, L., Puhl, R., Eisenberg, M.E., Reicks, M., Neumark-Sztainer, D. (2022). How is weight teasing cross-sectionally and longitudinally associated with health behaviors and weight status among ethnically/racially and socioeconomically diverse young people? International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity,19(1):71. doi: 10.1186/s12966-022-01307-y.

Roberts, S., Maheux, A., Watson, R.J., Puhl, R.M., Choukas-Bradley, S. (2022). Sexual and gender minority (SGM) adolescents’ disordered eating: Exploring general and SGM-specific factors. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 55(7):933-946.

Puhl, R.M., Lessard, L.M., Foster, G.D., Cardel, M.I. (2022). A comprehensive examination fo the nature, frequency, and context of parental weight communication: Perspectives of parents and adolescents. Nutrients,14,1562.https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14081562

Lawrence, S.E., Puhl, R.M., Schwartz, M.B., Watson, R.J, Foster, G.D. (2022). “The most hurtful thing I’ve ever experienced”: A qualitative examination of the nature of experiences of weight stigma by family members. Social Science & Medicine –   Qualitative Research in Health, 2, 100073.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmqr.2022.100073

Puhl, R.M. (2022). Weight stigma, policy initiatives, and harnessing social media to elevate activism. Body Image, 40,131-137.

Verhaak, A., Ferrand, J., Puhl, R.M., Tisher D.S., Papasavas, P.K., Umashanker, D. (2022). Experienced weight stigma, internalized weight bias, and clinical attrition in a medical weight loss patient sample. International Journal of Obesity. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-022-01087-2

Lessard, L.M., Puhl, R.M. (2022). Weight-based cybervictimization: Implications for adolescent health. Pediatric Obesity, e12888. doi:10.1111/ijpo.12888

Lessard, L.M., Watson, R.J., Schacter H.L., Wheldon C.W., Puhl, R.M. (2022). Weight enumeration in state anti-bullying laws: Associations with rates and risks of weight-based bullying among sexual and gender minority adolescents. Journal of Public Health Policy, 43, 27-39.

Wakefield, E.O., Belamkar, V., Litt, M.D., Puhl, R.M., Zempksy, W. There’s nothing wrong with you: Pain-related stigma in adolescents with chronic pain. (2022). Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 47, 456-458.

Puhl, R.M., Himmelstein, M.S., Speight, J. (2022). Weight stigma and diabetes stigma: Implications for weight-related health behaviors in adults with type 2 diabetes. Clinical Diabetes, 40, 51–61.

Lessard, L. M., & Puhl, R. M. (2021). Adolescent academic worries amid COVID-19 and perspectives on pandemic-related changes in teacher and peer relations. School Psychology, 36(5), 285-292.

Lessard, L.M., & Puhl, R.M. (2021). Adolescents’ exposure to and experiences of weight stigma during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 46, 950-959.

Puhl, R.M., Lessard, L., Pearl, R.L., Grupski, A., & Foster, G.D. (2021). Policies to address weight discrimination and bullying: Perspectives of adults engaged in weight management from six nations. Obesity, 29,1787–1798.

Wakefield, E., Puhl, R., Litt, M.D., Zempsky, W.T. (2021). “If it ever really hurts, I try not to let them know”: The use of concealment as a coping strategy among   adolescents with chronic pain. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 666275. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.666275

Puhl, R.M., Lessard, L.M., Pearl, R.L., Himmelstein, M.S., Foster, G.D. (2021). International comparisons of weight stigma: Addressing a void in the field. International    Journal of Obesity, 45, 1976–1985.

Puhl, R.M., Lessard, L.M., Himmelstein, M.S., Foster, G.D. (2021). The roles of experienced and internalized weight stigma in healthcare experiences: Perspectives of adults engaged in weight management across six countries. PLOS ONE 16(6): e0251566 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0251566

Lessard, L.M., Puhl, R.M., Himmelstein, M.S., Pearl, R.L., Foster, G.D. (2021). Eating and exercise-related correlates of weight Stigma: A multinational investigation. Obesity, 29, 966-970.

Braun, T.D.,Gorin, A.A., Puhl, R.M., Stone, A., Quinn, D.M., Ferrand, J., Abrantes, A.M., Unick, J., Tishler, D., Papasavas, P. (2021). Shame and self-compassion as risk and protective mechanisms of the internalized weight bias and emotional eating link in individuals seeking bariatric surgery. Obesity Surgery, 31, 3177-3187.

Hooper, L., Puhl, R.M., Eisenberg, M.E., Crow, S., Neumark-Sztainer, D. (2021). Weight teasing experienced during adolescence and young adulthood: cross-sectional and longitudinal associations with disordered eating behaviors in an ethnically/racially and socioeconomically diverse sample. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 54, 1449- 1462.

Reinka, M.A., Quinn, D.M., Puhl, R.M. (2021). Examining the relationship between weight controllability beliefs and eating behaviors: The role of internalized weight stigma and BMI. Appetite, 164: 105257https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2021.105257

Pearl, R.L., Puhl, R.M., Lessard, L.M., Himmelstein, M.S., Foster, G.D. (2021). Prevalence and correlates of weight bias internalization in weight management: A multinational study. Social Science & Medicine – Population Health, 13,100755.

Lessard, L.M., Lawrence, S.L., Puhl, R.M. (2021). Weight-based victimization and school performance in adolescence: Can teachers help reduce academic risks? School Psychology, 36, 69-74.

Lessard, L.M., Puhl, R.M. (2021). Reducing Educators’ Weight Bias: The Role of School-Based Anti-Bullying Policies. Journal of School Health.  https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.13068

Phelan, S.M., Puhl, R.M., Burgess, D.J., Natt, N., Mundi, M., Miller, N.E., Saha, S., et al. (2021). The Role of Weight Bias and Perceived Norms in Medical Students’ Patient- Centered Communication with Higher Weight Standardized Patients. Patient Education and Counseling, 104, 1962-1969.

Lessard, L.M., Puhl, R.M., Larson, N., Simone, M., Eisenberg, M.E., Neumark- Sztainer, D. (2021). Parental contributors to the prevalence and long-term health risks of family weight teasing in adolescence. Journal of Adolescent Health, 69, 74-81.

Puhl, R.M., Telke, S., Larson, N., Eisenberg, M., Neumark-Sztainer, D. (2020). Experiences of weight stigma and links with self-compassion among a population-based sample of young adults from diverse ethnic/racial and socio-economic backgrounds. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 134, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2020.110134

Himmelstein, M.S., Puhl, R.M., Pearl, R.L., Pinto, A.M., Foster, G.D. (2020). Coping with Weight Stigma among Adults in a Commercial Weight Management Sample.   International Journal of Behavioral Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-020-09895-4

Pearl. R.L., Puhl, R.M., Himmelstein, M.S., Pinto, A.M., Foster, G.D. (2020). Weight stigma and weight-related health: Associations of self-report measures among adults in weight management. Annals of Behavioral Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1093/abm/kaaa026

Lessard, L.M., Puhl, R.M., Watson, R.J. (2020). Gay-straight alliances: A mechanism of health risk reduction among LGBTQ adolescents. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. https://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(20)30141-0/fulltext

Lessard, L.M., Watson, R.J., Puhl, R.M. (2020). Bias-based bullying and school adjustment among sexual and gender minority adolescents: The role of gay-straight alliances. Journal of Youth and Adolescence. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-020-012051

Puhl, R.M.What words should we use to talk about weight? A systematic review of quantitative and qualitative studies examining preferences for weight-related terminology. (2020). Obesity Reviews, DOI: 10.1111/obr.13008

Puhl, R.M., Himmelstein, M.S., & Pearl, R.L. (2020). Weight stigma as a psychosocial contributor to obesity.American Psychologist, 75, 274-289.

Rubino, F., Puhl, R.M., Cummings, D.E., et al. (2020). Joint international consensus statement for ending stigma of obesity. Nature Medicine, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-020-  0803x.

Pudney, E.V., Himmelstein, M.S., Puhl, R.M., Foster, G.D. (2020). Distressed or not distressed? A mixed methods examination of reactions to weight stigma and implications for emotional wellbeing and internalized weight bias. Social Science & Medicine, 249, 112854.

O’Brien, K.S., Puhl, R.M., Latner, J.D., Lynott, D., Reid, J.D., Vakhitova, Z., Hunter, J.A., Scarf, D., Jeans, R., Bouguettaya, A., Carter, A. (2020). The effect of a food addiction explanation model for weight control and obesity on weight stigma. Nutrients, 12, 294; doi:10.3390/nu12020294

Watson, R.J., Fish, J.N., McKay, T., Allen, S., Eaton, L., & Puhl, R.M. (2020). Substance use among a national sample of sexual and gender minority adolescents: Intersections of sex assigned at birth and gender identity.  LGBTQ Health, 7, 37-46.

Eisenberg, M., Puhl, R.M., Watson, R.J. (2020). Family weight teasing, LGBTQ attitudes, and well-being among LGBTQ adolescents. Family & Community Health, 43(1), 17-25.

Panza, G.A., Puhl, R.M., Taylor, B.A., Zaleski, A.L., Livingston, J., Pescatello, L.S. (2019). Links between discrimination and cardiovascular health among socially stigmatized groups: A systematic review. PlosONE, 14(6), e0217623.

Selected Recent Invited Presentations:

(2025). Invited Keynote Address. Confronting Weight Stigma: Understanding its Harms and Embracing Pathways for Change. American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Annual National Meeting. Washington, DC.

(2025). Invited Presenter. Weight Stigma and Pediatric Obesity: Impact on Youth, the Role of Parents, and Guidance for Pediatric Clinicians. Advanced Therapies on Pediatric Obesity Annual National Meeting (Virtual).

(2025). Invited Presenter and Panelist. Health Consequences of Weight Stigma in Youth and the Role of Parents. National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research (Virtual).

(2024). Invited Panelist. Weight Bias Prevention and Reduction. International Weight Bias Summit. Montreal, Quebec.

(2024). Invited speaker: Understanding Weight Stigma & Strategies to Improve Patient Care. Columbia University School of Medicine, Virtual Conference on Obesity: Understanding the Biology & Exercising Effective Management Strategies. New York City, NY.

(2023). Invited Expert Panelist: Weight Stigma and Media: Assessing the Impact. Media Empathy Foundation National Event: Invited New York City, NY.

(2023). Invited Speaker: Weight Bias and the Lurking Land Mines Threatening Effective Engagement. American Academy of Pediatrics, National Annual Conference. Washington, DC.

(2023). Invited Grand Rounds Speaker: Weight Stigma: Implications for Health and Patient Care. The Obesity Society.

(2022) Opening Speaker: Efforts to Address Weight Stigma. Danish National Center for Obesity, Annual National Conference. Aarhus, Denmark.

(2022) Keynote speaker: Weight Stigma in Youth: Health Consequences and Implications for     Clinical Practice. University of Louisville, School of Medicine, 11th Annual Pediatric Behavioral and Mental Health Symposium. Louisville, KY.

(2022) Invited speaker: Weight Stigma: Harmful Health Consequences and Implications for Patient Care.  Obesity Medicine Association.

(2022) Opening Speaker and Expert Panelist: A Brief Overview of Weight Stigma. Media Empathy Foundation Spotlight on Weight Stigma. New York City, NY.

(2021) Grand Rounds Speaker: Weight Bias and its Impact on the Health of Children and Adolescents with Obesity. Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Columbus, OH.

(2021) Grand Rounds Speaker: Health consequences of weight stigma in youth: Implications for patients, providers, and clinical practice. Medical College of Wisconsin. Milwaukee, WI.

(2021) Health consequences of weight stigma: Implications for clinical practice and patient care. British Dietetic Association. UK.

(2021) Plenary Talk: The nature and health consequences of weight stigma. Swiss Association for the Study of Obesity National Conference. Berne, Switzerland.

(2021) The damaging impact of weight stigma on health: Implications for obesity prevention and treatment. University of Cambridge, Institute of Metabolic Science. Cambridge, UK.

(2021) Plenary Talk: Weight stigma and bias: What can we do to improve care? 10^th Annual Let’s Go National Obesity Conference, Portland, Maine.

(2021) Keynote Address: The need for multinational and collective action to address weight stigma. Canadian Obesity Summit, Annual National Meeting for Obesity Canada.

(2021) Obesity stigma, mental health, and dietary behaviors. European Congress on Obesity, Annual Meeting.

(2021) Plenary Speaker. Weight Stigma in Youth: Nature, Consequences, and Implications for Clinical Practice.Society of Pediatric Psychology Annual National Conference.

(2020)  Keynote speaker: Weight stigma in American society: Public health consequences and structural solutions. Framingham State University, Framingham, MA.

(2019) Invited plenary speaker: Weight Bias: Recent Guidelines and How You Can Make a Difference. American Academy of Pediatrics National Annual Conference. New Orleans, LA.

(2019). Invited expert panelist: Roundtable on Advancing Effective Obesity Communications.  Health and Medicine Division of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Washington, DC.

(2019) Keynote Speaker: Increasing the Focus of Weight Stigma as Harmful to Health. U.S. Office of Health & Human Services, Washington, DC.

(2019) Opening Speaker and Expert Panelist: Stigma and Discrimination: Definitions, Prevalence, and Consequences. World Congress on Interventional Therapies for Type 2 Diabetes, New York, NY.

(2019) Invited Symposium: Adverse Health Consequences of Weight Stigma Among Youth. Pediatric Academic Societies National Meeting, Baltimore, MD.

(2018) Award Lecture: Using a Social-Ecological Approach for Addressing Weight Stigma. The Obesity Society Annual Meeting, Mid-Career Scientific Achievement Award Lecture, Nashville, TN.

(2018) Keynote Speaker: An Ecological Framework for Tackling Weight Stigma. Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy Annual Meeting, Storrs, CT.

(2018) Keynote Speaker: Weight Bias and Appearance-based Prejudice Policy and Research. Appearance Matters International Conference, Bath, UK.

Selected recent examples of national media coverage:

The New York Times (January 14, 2025)

New Obesity Definition Challenges Current Use of BMI

Newsweek (Aug 4, 2024)

Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro: The Dark Side of Weight-Loss Drugs

Scientific American (June 24, 2024)

People who are fat and healthy may hold keys to understanding obesity

Vogue (March 14, 2024)

Why some doctors are giving less weight to weight

The Washington Post (February 14, 2024)

New marketing push by Ozempic and others sparks body-positive backlash

Oprah Daily (September 20^th, 2023)

Weight stigma is getting in the way of your health

The Associated Press (April 27^th, 2023)

Powerful new obesity drug poised to upend weight loss care

The Washington Post (March 22nd, 2023)

Size Discrimination May Limit Job Prospects. New York City May Ban It.

Associated Press (February 21^st, 2023)

Obesity Care Week 2023: Nine Years of Changing the Way We Care About Obesity

NBC TODAY (February 21^st, 2023)

Weight loss isn’t always a sign of health

 NBC (February 8^th, 2023)

Ozempic and Wegovy add new layers to the understanding of obesity as a chronic health condition

The New York Times (January 20th, 2023)

New Guidelines Underscore How Complicated Childhood Obesity is for Patients and Providers

USA Today (July 27^th, 2022)

Extra weight increases health risk in the long run. Fat shaming hurts now.

 BBC (April 12^th, 2022)

The unspoken weight discrimination problem at work

The New York Times (February 27^th, 2022)

Brazil, land of the thong, embraces its heavier self

 CNN (June 1^st, 2021)

Fat-shaming by doctors, family members, classmates is a global health problem, studies show

The Conversation (June 1^st, 2021)

Weight stigma is a burden around the world – and has negative consequences everywhere

USA Today (October 14^th, 2020)

The kids aren’t all right: COVID-19-fueled stress eating, inequities, lack of fitness expected to boost obesity, experts say.

US News and World Report (September 10^th, 2020)

Who’s Most Likely to Binge Eat Amid Pandemic?

CBS Original Documentary (August 20^th, 2020)

Speaking Frankly / Fat Shaming

The Huffington Post (February 12, 2020)

Being Overweight Benefits Some Men in the Workplace, But Not Women

US News and World Report (February 3, 2020)

The Great Body Acceptance Debate

HealthDay (October 8, 2019)

Pressuring Kids to Diet Can Backfire, Damaging Long-Term Health

The Washington Post (June 21st, 2019)

Weight Discrimination is Rampant. Yet in Most Places it’s Still Legal.

The Huffington Post (March 25^th, 2019)

10 Everyday Ways To Foster A Healthy Body Image In Your Child

Selected Professional Activities/Awards:

• UConn’s HDFS Faculty Excellence in Mentoring Award (2025)
• UConn’s AAUP Excellence in Research and Creativity Career Award (2023)
• Named to World’s Highly Cited Research List (2021)
• Obesity Canada’s Distinguished Lecturer Award (2021)
• HDFS Faculty Research Award (2020)
• UConn CLAS Excellence in Research Award in Public Scholarship (2019)
• Distinguished Faculty Research Award, Rainbow Center, UConn (2019)
• The Obesity Society Scientific Achievement Award for Excellence in an Established Research Career (2018)
• Associate Editor, Stigma & Health (APA) (2015 – present)
• Editorial Board, Obesity: Science and Practice (Wiley) (2015-present)
• Recipient of Excellence in Policy Research Award, Eating Disorders Coalition,Washington DC (2013)
• Recipient of Bias Buster Award, Obesity Action Coalition (2012)
• Elected Advocacy Councilor, The Obesity Society Council (2009-2012)
• Chair, Weight Bias Task Force, The Obesity Society, (2005-2013)
• Fellow, The Obesity Society (2010- present)
• Recipient of William Kessen Teaching Award, Yale University, Dept. of Psychology (2002)