Faculty Profile

Cindy Leung, ScD, MPH

Cindy Leung, ScD, MPH

  • John G. Searle Assistant Professor of Nutritional Sciences
  • Assistant Professor, Nutritional Sciences

3866 SPH I
1415 Washington Heights
Ann Arbor, MI  48109-2029

Dr. 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. Dr. Leung holds an adjunct appointment at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health. She earned her B.A. and MPH from UC Berkeley and her Sc.D in Nutrition and Epidemiology from the Harvard School of Public Health. 

  • ScD, Nutrition and Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, 2012
  • MPH, Public Health Nutrition, UC Berkeley School of Public Health, 2007
  • BA, Molecular and Cell Biology and English, UC Berkeley, 2004

Leung CW, Tester JM, Laraia BA. Household food insecurity and ideal cardiovascular health factors in U.S. adults. JAMA Int Med. 2017. 177(5): 730-732.

Leung CW, Tester JM, Rimm EB, Willett WC. SNAP participation and diet-sensitive cardiometabolic risk factors in adolescents. Am J Prev Med. 2017. 52(2S2): S127-S137.

Tester JM, Leung CW, Crawford PB. Revised WIC Food Package and Children’s Diet Quality. Pediatrics.  2016. 137(5). 

Leung CW, Ryan-Ibarra S, Linares A, Induni M, Sugerman S, Long MW, Rimm EB, Willett WC. Californians support policies to improve the nutritional impact of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Am J Public Health. 2015. 105(8): 1576-1580.

Leung CW, Epel ES, Willett WC, Rimm EB, Laraia BA. Household food insecurity is positively associated with depression among low-income Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participants and income-eligible nonparticipants. J Nutr. 2015. 145(3): 622-627.

Leung CW, Laraia BA, Needham BL, Rehkopf DH, Adler NE, Epel ES. Soda and Cell Aging: An Analysis of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Leukocyte Telomere Length among Healthy US Adults. Am J Public Health. 2014. 104 (12): 2425-2431. 

Wang D, Leung CW, Li Y, Ding EL, Chiuve SE, Hu FB, Willett WC. Trends in Dietary Quality among Adults in the United Sates: 1999-2010. JAMA Intern Med. 2014. 174(10): 1587-1595.

Leung CW, Blumenthal SJ, Hoffnagle EE, Jensen HH, Foerster SB, Nestle M, Cheung LWY, Mozaffarian D, Willett WC. Associations of Food Stamp Participation With Dietary Quality and Obesity in Children. Pediatrics. 2013; 131(3): 463-472. 

Leung CW, Willett WC, Ding EL. Low-income Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participation is related to adiposity and metabolic risk factors. Am J Clin Nutr. 2012. 95(1): 17-24. 

Leung CW, Laraia BA, Kelly M, Nickleach D, Adler NE, Kushi LH, Yen IH. The influence of neighborhood food stores on change in young girls’ body mass index. Am J Prev Med. 2011. 41(1): 43-51.

  • American Society for Nutrition
  • Society for Epidemiologic Research
  • American Heart Association
  • Society for Research in Child Development

Cindy Leung in the News

Multiple bottles of soda in a fridge

Warning Labels Help Reduce Sugary Drink Intake among College Students

New Study from Cindy Leung and Julia Wolfson

Illustration of people wearing masks.

COVID-19 Makes Clear the Need to Address Social Determinants of Health

New article from Julia Wolfson and Cindy Leung

Bowl of bowtie pasta with pesto and tomatoes

Coronavirus Pandemic Worsens Food Insecurity for Low-Income Adults

New research from Julia Wolfson and Cindy Leung

Read More