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.

Active Research

Sponsored Research

• Bernard Appiah (Co-Investigator) Lynn Brann (Co-Investigator) Katie Kidwell (Co-Investigator) Jianxuan Liu (Co-Investigator) Maryam Yuhas (PD/PI) , SweetTexts+: A Mobile Parenting Intervention To Reduce Preschool Sugar Intake And Explore Machine Learning-Informed Personalization - Allen Foundation, Inc. - Not for Profit/Foundation. End Date: 2028-12-31
• 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) Katie Kidwell (Co-PD/PI) Jessica Garay (Co-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

Other Grants, Fellowships, Contracts, and Gifts

• Maryam Yuhas (Co-PD/PI)Lynn Brann (Co-Investigator)Katie Kidwell (Co-PD/PI), Establishing a Parent Advisory Partnership to Co-Develop and Disseminate a Precision Food Parenting Intervention - Engaged Humanities Network. End Date: 2027-05-31
• Maryam Yuhas, SweetTexts Pilot: A split-burst EMA add-on to identify tailoring variables and decision points for reducing energy-dense food intake in preschool children - Center for Health Behavior and Innovation. End Date: 2027-05-31

Published Scholarship

Publications

• Yuhas, M., Kidwell, K.M., Hua, X. and Brann, L.S., 2026. Low‐Income Preschool Children’s Free Sugar Consumption and Its Association With the Home Environment. Obesity Science & Practice, [online] 12(3). https://doi.org/10.1002/osp4.70161.
• Yuhas, M., Kidwell, K.M., Hua, X., Smith, G.M. and Brann, L.S., 2026. Parenting Style, Caregiver Stress, and Energy-Dense Feeding Episodes in Low-Income Preschoolers: A Pilot Ecological Momentary Assessment Study. Nutrients, [online] 18(9), p.1356. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18091356.
• Kidwell, K.M., Milligan, M.A., Perkins, A., Silverman, A., Park, A., Gellis, L.A. and Yuhas, M., 2025. Associations Between School Start Times and Adolescent Dietary Intake: Results From a National Study. Health Education & Behavior, [online] 53(1), pp.17–25. https://doi.org/10.1177/10901981251349526.
• Kidwell, K.M., Hamilton, A.L., Deyo, A.G., Milligan, M.A., Vrabec, A., Tully, L.K. and Yuhas, M., 2025. Adolescent sleep and food cravings: randomized controlled trial of a sleep intervention. Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine, [online] 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/21642850.2025.2590853.
• Maryam YuhasLynn Brann (2025). Targeting food dyes ignores the real crisis in childhood nutrition — let's instead focus on food insecurity and poverty.. MedPage Today
• 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.

Presentations

• Maryam YuhasExploring associations between parenting style, stress, and energy-dense feeding practices in low-income preschoolers: a pilot EMA study. [Oral Presentation]. Presented at International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity Annual Meeting, Cadiz, Spain, 2026-05-01.
• Maryam YuhasCo-designing SweetTexts: an intake-driven, micro-tailored SMS intervention to reduce free-sugar consumption in preschoolers [Poster]. Presented at Society of Behavioral Medicine 46th Annual Meeting., Chicago, IL, United States, 2026-04-01.
• A DeyoAL HamiltonEK PresuttiMaryam YuhasKatie KidwellFeasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a single-session telehealth sleep intervention for adolescents: A pilot study [Poster]. Presented at 58th Annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Philadelphia, PA, 2024-11-01.
• AL HamiltonA DeyoEK PresuttiMaryam YuhasKatie KidwellThe role of sleep in food cravings among adolescents: Results from a single-session telehealth sleep intervention [Poster]. Presented at 58th Annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Philadelphia, PA, 2024-11-01.
• Maryam YuhasThe role of the caregiver in preschool children’s sugary food behaviors [Poster]. Presented at 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, Syracuse, NY, 2024-06-01.
• Xuezhu HuaGreta SmithLynn BrannKatie KidwellMaryam Yuhas (2024). Parenting Behaviors, Child Temperament, and Sugar Intake in Low-income Preschoolers [Poster]. Presented at International Conference of Nutrition and Dietetics, Toronto, Canada, 2024-06-12.
• Maryam YuhasFactors of the home environment that impact low-income preschool children’s consumption of sugary food and drinks [Poster]. Presented at Society of Behavioral Medicine 45th Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions, Philidelphia, PA, 2024-03-13.
• BA McCormickMaryam YuhasJM ZoellnerExploring Differences in Adolescent BMI and Obesity Related Behaviors by Urban, Suburban, and Rural Status. Presented at Society of Behavioral Medicine 43rd Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions, Baltimore, MD, 2022-04-01.
• Maryam YuhasDP BrockLM RitterbandPI ChowKJ PorterJM ZoellnerRetention and engagement of rural adolescent caregivers in a short message service intervention to reduce sugary drinks. Presented at Society of Behavioral Medicine 43rd Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions, Baltimore, MD, 2022-04-01.
• Maryam YuhasA LoydB McCormickK PorterL RitterbandP ChowD TateJ ZoellnerResponse patterns and preliminary effects of a caregiver text message intervention targeting sugary beverages in rural schools. Presented at UConn Center for mHealth and Social Media. Virtual Conference, 2020-05-01.

Active Service

Professional Service

• Board of Directors, Childcare Solutions, Syracuse, NY, Provide organizational governance, strategic guidance, and community advocacy to support access to high-quality child care for families.. (active since: 2026)
• Board of Advisors, Society of Behavioral Medicine, Contribute to strategic planning, programming, and member engagement initiatives supporting child and family health research and practice.. (active since: 2026)
• Board of Advisors, Peace Inc. Head Start, Syracuse, Advise on Head Start programming and community needs, support program planning and evaluation, and contribute expertise in child nutrition and family health.. (active since: 2020)
• 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)
• Conference-Related, Society of Behavioral Medicine, Abstract reviewer. (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

Memberships

• International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA) . nternational professional organization focused on advancing research and practice related to behavioral nutrition, physical activity, and population health.
• Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM) . Interdisciplinary professional organization that advances the science and practice of behavioral medicine, including research on health behavior, intervention development, implementation, and prevention.
• Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) . Professional organization for nutrition and dietetics practitioners and researchers that supports evidence-based practice, professional development, advocacy, and advancement of the nutrition profession.

Licensures and Certifications

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

Recent Media Mentions:

• Watch: What You Should Know About Food Dyes (18 December 2025)
• As New Year’s Resolutions Focus on Healthier Eating, What Should You Know About Food Ingredients? (17 December 2025)
• As New Year’s Resolutions Focus on Healthier Eating, What Should You Know About Food Ingredients? (16 December 2025)
• The SNAP Benefits Crisis—Syracuse Experts Weigh In (30 October 2025)
• Cycle of Health: Docs on Diets (26 June 2025)
• Targeting Food Dyes Ignores the Real Crisis in Childhood Nutrition — Let’s Instead Focus on Food Insecurity and Poverty (10 June 2025)
• Experts on Halloween Candy Cost and Health (24 October 2024)