Maryam Yuhas

Education

• Ph.D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, Area of Emphasis: Behavioral and Community Sciences
• M.S., Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, . Major: Nutritional Sciences
• B.S., Benedictine University, Lisle, IL, . Major: Nutrition and Dietetics

Specialization

• Nutrition and physical activity interventions; childhood obesity; parental influence on child health behaviors; underserved and minority populations; mHealth; digital health; health disparities; health equity; family-based interventions; maternal health; socioecological perspective; evidence-based behavioral interventions; community-based participatory research (CBPR); dissemination and implementation (D&I) methods; novel technology and research methods for behavior change.

Teaching

Currently Teaching

• NSD 455 - Community Nutrition
• NSD 457 - Research and Evaluation in Nutrition

Active Research

Sponsored Research

• Maryam Yuhas (PD/PI) Bernard Appiah (Co-Investigator) Lynn Brann (Co-Investigator) Katie Kidwell (Co-Investigator) Jianxuan Liu (Co-Investigator) , SweetTexts: A parenting intervention to reduce free sugar intake in low-income preschool children - National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases/NIH/DHHS - Federal Agencies Grant. End Date: 2028-06-30
• Katie Kidwell (PD/PI) Jianxuan Liu (Co-Investigator) Maryam Yuhas (Co-Investigator) , Reducing Obesity Risk in Adolescents: Causal Analysis of a Brief Sleep Intervention to Regulate Eating Behaviors - National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases/NIH/DHHS - Federal Agencies Grant. End Date: 2028-06-30
• Maryam Yuhas (PD/PI) , Train2Rest: A Targeted Travel-Related Sleep And Nutrition Ehealth Program For Student-Athletes - National Collegiate Athletic Association - Not for Profit/Foundation. End Date: 2027-06-30

Published Scholarship

Publications

• Brock, D.-J.P., Yuhas, M., Porter, K.J., Chow, P.I., Ritterband, L.M., Tate, D.F. and Zoellner, J.M., 2023. Outcomes of a Caregiver-Focused Short Message Service (SMS) Intervention to Reduce Intake of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages in Rural Caregivers and Adolescents. Nutrients, [online] 15(8), p.1957. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15081957.
• Yuhas, M., Brock, D.-J.P., Ritterband, L.M., Chow, P.I., Porter, K.J. and Zoellner, J.M., 2023. Retention and engagement of rural caregivers of adolescents in a short message service intervention to reduce sugar-sweetened beverage intake. DIGITAL HEALTH, [online] 9. https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076231160324.
• Kirkpatrick, B.M., Yuhas, M. and Zoellner, J.M., 2022. Exploring differences in adolescent BMI and obesity-related behaviors by urban, suburban, and rural status. Preventive Medicine Reports, [online] 29, p.101960. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2022.101960.
• Yuhas, M., Moore, C.F., Garay, J. and Brown, S.D., 2022. Improving Maternal Cardiovascular Health in Underserved Populations: a Narrative Review of Behavioral Intervention Trials Targeting Postpartum Weight Retention. Current Atherosclerosis Reports, [online] 24(9), pp.689–699. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11883-022-01045-3.
• Vrabec, A., Yuhas, M., Deyo, A. and Kidwell, K., 2022. Social jet lag and eating styles in young adults. Chronobiology International, [online] 39(9), pp.1277–1284. https://doi.org/10.1080/07420528.2022.2097090.
• Porter, K.J., You, W., Kirkpatrick, B.M., Thatcher, E.J., Reid, A.L., Yuhas, M. and Zoellner, J.M., 2022. Factors Influencing the Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Intake of Caregivers of Adolescents in Appalachia. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, [online] 54(3), pp.230–238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2021.09.010.
• Zoellner, J.M., You, W., Hill, J.L., Brock, D.P., Yuhas, M., Price, B., Wilson, J., Montague, D.R. and Estabrooks, P.A., 2021. Comparing two different family‐based childhood obesity treatment programmes in a medically underserved region: Effectiveness, engagement and implementation outcomes from a randomized controlled trial. Pediatric Obesity, [online] 17(1). https://doi.org/10.1111/ijpo.12840.
• Kathleen J. PorterWen YouBrittany M. KirkpatrickEsther J. ThatcherAnnie L. ReidMaryam YuhasJamie M. Zoellner (2021). Factors Influencing the Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Intake of Caregivers of Adolescents in Appalachia. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior
• McCormick, B.A., Porter, K.J., You, W., Yuhas, M., Reid, A.L., Thatcher, E.J. and Zoellner, J.M., 2021. Applying the socio-ecological model to understand factors associated with sugar-sweetened beverage behaviours among rural Appalachian adolescents. Public Health Nutrition, [online] 24(11), pp.3242–3252. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1368980021000069.
• Reid, A.L., Porter, K.J., You, W., Kirkpatrick, B.M., Yuhas, M., Vaught, S.S. and Zoellner, J.M., 2021. Low Health Literacy Is Associated With Energy‐Balance‐Related Behaviors, Quality of Life, and BMI Among Rural Appalachian Middle School Students: A Cross‐Sectional Study. Journal of School Health, [online] 91(8), pp.608–616. https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.13051.

Presentations

• Deyo, A. et al., 2024. Feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a single-session telehealth sleep intervention for adolescents: A pilot study. In 58th Annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies. Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies.
• Hamilton, A. et al., 2024. The role of sleep in food cravings among adolescents: Results from a single-session telehealth sleep intervention. In 58th Annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies. Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies.
• Yuhas, M., 2024. The role of the caregiver in preschool children’s sugary food behaviors. In The Agriculture, Food, and Human Values Society and the Association for the Study of Food and Society Annual Conference Right to Food—Food as Commons.
• Hua, X. et al., 2024. Parenting Behaviors, Child Temperament, and Sugar Intake in Low-income Preschoolers. In International Conference of Nutrition and Dietetics.
• Yuhas, M., 2024. Factors of the home environment that impact low-income preschool children’s consumption of sugary food and drinks. In Society of Behavioral Medicine 45th Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions.
• McCormick, B., Yuhas, M. & Zoellner, J., 2022. Exploring Differences in Adolescent BMI and Obesity Related Behaviors by Urban, Suburban, and Rural Status. In Society of Behavioral Medicine 43rd Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions.
• Yuhas, M. et al., 2022. Retention and engagement of rural adolescent caregivers in a short message service intervention to reduce sugary drinks. In Society of Behavioral Medicine 43rd Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions.
• Yuhas, M. et al., 2020. Response patterns and preliminary effects of a caregiver text message intervention targeting sugary beverages in rural schools. In UConn Center for mHealth and Social Media. Virtual Conference.
• Yuhas, M. et al., 2020. Comparing reach and retention strategies across cohorts of a childhood obesity treatment trial in a medically underserved area. In Society of Behavioral Medicine 41st Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions.
• Yuhas, M. et al., 2020. Response patterns and preliminary effects of a caregiver text message intervention targeting sugary beverages in rural schools. In Society of Behavioral Medicine 41st Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions.

Active Service

Professional Service

• Ad-hoc reviewer, Health Literacy Research and Practice (active since: 2020)
• Ad-hoc reviewer, Journal of Public Health Dentistry (active since: 2020)
• Ad-hoc reviewer, Journal of Medical Internet Research (active since: 2019)
• Committee Member, Society of Behavioral Medicine (active since: 2019)
• Ad-hoc reviewer, Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (active since: 2018)
• Committee Member, Cancer Center Without Walls Community Advisory Board (active since: 2017)
• Committee Member, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (active since: 2013)

Honors, Awards, and Recognition

• Fellowship - $5,000 Research Award, Leadership and Education Advancement Program (LEAP) (received: 2020)
• Graduate Student Association Travel Award
• Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise Travel Award
• Program Award, Interdisciplinary Graduate Education (IGEP) (received: 2016)
• Weber Gerontology Scholarship Award (received: 2013)
• 3-Minute Thesis First Place Winner
• Presidential Award, Benedictine University (received: 2007)

Licensures and Certifications

• Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist (RDN) Commission on Dietetics Registration. Registration Number: 86027553. (since: 2014)