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Diet, Physical Activity & Health Behaviors

A Virginia Tech HNFE faculty member stands holding a spoonful of an artificial sweetener in a lab.

This research area is dedicated to assessing the impact of physical activity and nutrition on the prevention of chronic diseases across the lifespan, as well as the promotion of nutrition and physical activity for complete physical, mental, and social well-being. Researchers investigate how lifestyle behaviors related to diet and exercise can influence and contribute to the prevention of various chronic health conditions, ultimately aiming to promote better health outcomes. This entails delving into the art and science of disease prevention and health promotion through individual, community, and systems-level changes that support health behaviors and healthy environments.

Areas of Interest

  • Behaviors that support sustainable lifestyles
  • Complementary and integrative health
  • Competency and capacity based training
  • Dietary supplementation
  • Food choice
  • Food security and mental health
  • Healthy aging and healthspan
  • Holistic wellbeing
  • Hydration
  • Medication adherence
  • Micronutrient assessment
  • Nutraceuticals
  • Nutrition across the lifespan
  • Physical activity promotion
  • Weight management
  • Whole health

Faculty

  • Bio Item
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    Brenda M. Davy, PhD, RDN , bio

    Professor: Obesity and body weight regulation; behavioral and metabolic aspects; diet and cardiovascular diseases; dietary intake assessment; water and beverage intake and health

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    Kevin P. Davy, PhD , bio

    Professor: Etiology, prevention, and treatment of cardiometabolic dysfunction in aging and obesity

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    A Virginia Tech HNFE faculty member stands outside for a photo.
    Alexandra DiFeliceantonio, PhD , bio

    Assistant Professor: Food choice and food reward; neuroscience and metabolism

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    A Virginia Tech HNFE faculty member stands outside against a Hokie Stone building for a photo.
    Deborah J. Good, PhD , bio

    Associate Professor: Molecular regulation of body weight, exercise, fertility, and puberty; prader-willi syndrome; phylogenetic analysis; nutraceutical functional foods; Pedagogy research

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    A Virginia Tech HNFE faculty member stands outside for a photo.
    Samantha Harden, PhD, 500 RYT , bio

    Associate Professor: Yoga as an affordable, accessible public health practice; dissemination and implementation science; group dynamics for long-term health behaviors

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    Valisa E. Hedrick, PhD, RDN , bio

    Associate Professor and Director of the Dietary Assessment Laboratory: Dietary intake and health; dietary assessment methodology; non-nutritive sweeteners; evaluation of nutrition intervention programs

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    A Virginia Tech HNFE faculty member stands inside a campus building for a photo.
    Vivica I. Kraak, MS, PhD, RDN , bio

    Associate Professor: U.S. and global food and nutrition policy; public health; governance for sustainable diets and food systems; food and beverage marketing

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    A Virginia Tech HNFE faculty member stands inside of a campus building for a headshot.
    Enette Larson-Meyer, PhD, RD, CSSD, FACSM , bio

    Professor, Director of the Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics (MSND) Program, and Director of the Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism (NEM) Lab: How nutrition and exercise influence health and physical performance; special interest in energy, vitamin D and iodine metabolism

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    Dongmin Liu, PhD , bio

    Professor: Identification of bioactive compounds for preventing obesity and diabetes and promoting metabolic health; discovery of phytochemicals to delay aging

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    A Virginia Tech HNFE faculty member sits inside a studio for a professional headshot.
    Carlin Rafie, PhD, MS, RD , bio

    Assistant Professor and Senior Extension Specialist: Community based participatory methods for evaluation of community health knowledge, resources, and needs; development, dissemination and implementation of lifestyle management programs

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    Jeff Stein, PhD , bio

    Assistant Professor: Type 2 diabetes management; obesity; health behavior; tobacco use; decision-making; behavioral economics

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    A Virginia Tech HNFE faculty member stands outside for a photo.
    Stella L. Volpe, PhD, RDN, ACSM-CEP, FACSM , bio

    Department Head and Professor: Nutrition and exercise in the prevention of obesity and diabetes; sports nutrition

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    A Virginia Tech HNFE faculty member stands inside for a photo.
    Jay Williams, PhD , bio

    Professor: Muscle physiology and biochemistry; human performance; athlete monitoring; sports science