26
Feb 15

Our first COPT graduate: Dr. Katherine Balantekin

On February 24, 2015, Dr. Katherine Balantekin successfully defended her doctoral dissertation research, which explored family, peer, and individual factors that are associated with patterns of dieting behavior in girls. Dr. Balantekin was co-advised by Dr. Leann Birch and Dr. Jennifer Savage Williams.

Dr. Katherine Balantekin at her defense

Dr. Katherine Balantekin at her defense

Dr. Balantekin’s first dissertation paper, Parental encouragement of dieting promotes daughters’ early dieting is published in Appetite

Overall, Katherine’s work highlights the need to research specific weight control behaviors used as part of dieting rather than focus on using dieting as a singular behavior. These findings also emphasize the need for multidimensional preventions and interventions, addressing risk factors for dieting and use of unhealthy and extreme weight control behaviors at the individual, family, friend, and community (e.g. media) levels.

Dr. Katie Balantekin (center) with her co-advisors Dr. Jen Savage Williams (left) and Dr. Leann Birch (right)

Dr. Katie Balantekin (center) with her co-advisors Dr. Jen Savage Williams (left) and Dr. Leann Birch (right)

Chelsea Rose (left) and Dr. Katherine Balantekin (right)

Chelsea Rose (left) and Dr. Katherine Balantekin (right)

Celebrating with colleagues from the University of Buffalo: Amanda Ziegler (left) and Jen Temple (right)

Celebrating with colleagues from the University at Buffalo: Amanda Ziegler (left) and Dr. Jenn Temple (right)

Next year, Katherine plans on working as a postdoctoral fellow, and hopes to continue to research childhood obesity along with learning more about eating disorders.


26
Feb 15

Nutritional Sciences Ruth Pike Lecture given by Dr. Tanja Kral

On February 23, 2015 Dr. Tanja Kral gave the 2015 annual Ruth Pike Lecture, hosted by the department of Nutritional Sciences at Penn State. Dr. Kral is an Associate Professor of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing and the Perelman School of Medicine, Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences. She earned her PhD in Nutritional Sciences from Penn State, where she trained under the mentorship of COPT Program Director Dr. Barbara Rolls.

Dr. Kral gave an overview of her career trajectory and discussed her current and future research projects, which investigate how genetic and environmental characteristics within families interact to predict energy intake in children. It was inspiring to hear Dr. Kral describe her growth as an early career investigator and learn more about her important scientific contributions to the field of childhood obesity.

Dr. Gordon Jensen (left), Dr. Tanja Kral (center), Dr. Barbara Rolls (Right)

Dr. Gordon Jensen (left), Dr. Tanja Kral (center), Dr. Barbara Rolls (Right)

 


26
Feb 15

A visit from an international collaborator: Dr. David Thivel

David Thivel, PhD, Assistant Professor and pediatric obesity researcher at the Laboratory of Metabolic Adaptations to Exercise (AME2P) at Clermont University (FR), visited Penn State January 26 – February 1, 2015.

Dr. Kathleen Keller (left), Dr. David Thivel (center), Nicole Fearnbach (right)

Dr. Kathleen Keller (left), Dr. David Thivel (center), Nicole Fearnbach (right)

Dr. Thivel is a member of the doctoral committee for COPT fellow Nicole Fearnbach, and collaborates with the Children’s Eating Behavior Laboratory under the direction of COPT co-director Dr. Kathleen Keller. Dr. Thivel gave a seminar titled “Nutritional Adaptations to Exercise in Children and Adolescents: Implications for Pediatric Obesity?” during which he discussed research on the interaction between exercise and eating behaviors.

Throughout the week, he had the opportunity to meet with faculty and students in the departments of Nutritional Sciences, Kinesiology, and Human Development and Family Studies. The Nutrition Graduate Student Association hosted a luncheon for him to discuss his career path, the French academic system, and his international collaborations. And he particularly enjoyed tours of the Clinical Research Center and the various laboratories on campus. Of course, his visit to Penn State would not have been complete without a visit to the Berkey Creamery! We were happy to welcome him and look forward to his next visit.

Thivel talk

Dr. David Thivel explaining the mechanisms of energy intake and expenditure

 


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