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Cindy Leung
John G. Searle Assistant Professor, Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Public Health
Cindy Leung is a nutrition epidemiologist whose research focuses on diet and health disparities in vulnerable populations. Using qualitative and quantitative research methods, her research focuses on three primary areas: 1) understanding stress as a novel mechanism underlying food insecurity and children’s risk of obesity, 2) evaluating the impact of participating in federal food programs on dietary behaviors and chronic disease risk, and 3) assessing stakeholder-supported strategies for improving the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). In a separate line of inquiry, she has conducted several studies on diet and cellular aging. Leung holds an adjunct appointment at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health.
Sc.D, Harvard School of Public Health; B.A. and MPH, University of California Berkeley
Key Issues
Faculty Projects
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Breaking the “Starving Student” Myth: Understanding and Addressing Food Insecurity Needs on Campus The project: Food insecurity, a condition of limited or uncertain access to nutritious food, is a critical issue for students’ health, academic achievement, and future well-being. Recent studies, including one conducted at the University of Michigan in 2015, have shown unprecedented high levels of food insecurity on college campuses. The process: This mixed-methods project assessed […] -
The Effect of COVID-19 on Food Insecurity in the United States The project: The COVID-19 pandemic and the societal changes it has prompted in the United States are profoundly and quickly changing American life. This research aimed to measure the effect of the COVID-19 outbreak on food insecurity in the United States. The process: Wave one of a survey of adults with low incomes (which began […]