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