Jennifer Savage Williams | Penn State College of Health and Human Development

Jennifer Savage Williams

Professor
Director, Center for Childhood Obesity Research

Summary Statement

Behavioral (feeding practices, sleep) and individual factors that impact food intake; Responsive parenting; Clinical and community-based childhood obesity prevention interventions

Department

Nutritional Sciences - NUTR
Graduate Program
Center for Childhood Obesity Research - CCOR

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Education

Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University (2008) BS in Nutrition & Dietetics; Dietetics & Sports Nutrition, Mansfield University (2000)

Currently Accepting Graduate Students

Phone

(814) 865-0514

jfs195@psu.edu

Office Address

103 Noll Lab
University Park, PA 16802

Fax

(814) 863-6103

Additional Websites

https://hhd.psu.edu/research/research-centers/center-childhood-obesity-research

Curriculum Vitae

ORCID iD

Professional Credentials

Ph.D.

Affiliations

American Academy of Pediatrics
The Pennsylvania Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC)
Head Start
Hershey Medical Center
Geisinger Health System

Interests

developing effective and efficient prenatal and postnatal interventions
promote health and well-being across the lifespan
promotes interdisciplinary research that focuses on developing effective and efficient prenatal and postnatal behavioral
address childhood obesity to attract resources and recognition

Specializations

Conduct experimental research that will serve as the evidence base for developing successful interventions to prevent maternal and childhood obesity
Identify individual and contextual factors that influence food preferences, the developing controls of food intake, and obesity risk among children
Teach responsive parenting (responding contingently, promptly, and in ways that are developmentally appropriate) to promote self-regulatory skills in children, in turn promoting healthy growth
Incorporate e-health technology to develop cost-effective interventions
Build, optimize, and evaluate multi-faceted interventions delivered in clinical and community settings designed to prevent pediatric obesity

Grants and Research Projects

1 R01 DK120754-01 National Institute of Health. ONE PATH: Optimizing Nutrition Education for Parents and Teachers for Healthy Growth. The overall objective of the ONE PATH study is to design an optimized, scalable multi-component responsive feeding intervention that changes caregiver feeding practices (Head Start providers and parents) and the food environment (home and HEAD Start classroom) to promote child appetite self-regulation and healthy food among underserved preschoolers (age 3-5 years) living in rural poverty. ONE PATH will intervene on 816 families in 48 classrooms, divided into 3 cohorts with each cohort receiving the intervention throughout 1 school year (Sept through May).
1 R40 MC28317-01-00 United States Department of Health Resources and Services Administration Maternal and Child Health. Evaluating Coordination of Care Between Pediatricians and WIC Nutritionists: Early Obesity Prevention for WIC Mothers and Children. To examine the effects of an innovative 6 month intervention that coordinates care between primary care providers and the Pennsylvania Special Supplemental Nutrition Program Women, Infants and Children (WIC) to promote responsive parenting and optimize primary prevention of early pediatric obesity.
2 R01 DK088244-07A1 National Institute of Health/NIDDK. Preventing Obesity through Interventions during Infancy. This research will test the sustained effects of a novel responsive parenting early intervention program to prevent childhood obesity. Effects on BMI at ages 6 and 9 will be tested, as will, the early intervention effects on parenting and behavioral outcomes.
1 R56 HL126799-01 National Institute of Health/NHLBI. Using Dynamical Systems Modeling to Understand the Effects of an Individually Tailored Prenatal Weight Gain Intervention on Fetal Growth and Postnatal Obesity Risk. The goal of the research is to use control systems engineering principles and dynamical modeling approaches to examine the cross-over effect of an adaptive behavioral intervention to manage gestational weight gain on fetal growth, postpartum maternal weight, and infant growth over the first year of life.
4000008692 United States Department of Agriculture, Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare; Pennsylvania Nutrition Education TRACKS. Promoting Healthy Dietary Behaviors among Low-Income Families. The goal of this program is to deliver obesity prevention interventions designed to promote healthy eating behaviors among low income families, and to increase the willingness of low-income children to try new foods. We are also working with our Head Start partners to improve the environment in their centers to better support healthy eating behaviors and daily physical activity for the children enrolled. We are also developing and testing the efficacy of an interactive online responsive feeding curriculum that targets low-income parents of infants and toddlers.

Publications

Complete List of Published Work in MyBibliography: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/myncbi/jennifer.williams.1/bibliography/47338423/public/?sort=date&direction=ascending

PUBLICATIONS - Refereed Journal Articles:

*Graduate Students & Post Docs, **Undergrad Students, ***Co-Supervised Post Docs

McCabe CF, Wood GC, Cochran W, Franceschelli-Hosterman JF, Savage JS, Bailey-Davis L. Patient-Reported Outcome Measures Can Advance Population Health but Is Access to Instruments Equitable? Frontiers in Pediatrics. (2022). 10:892947.
Ruggiero CF**, Moore AM***, Marini ME, Kodish SR, Jones DE, McHale SM, Savage JS. Resource dilution in maternal feeding practices after birth of a secondborn. Appetite. (2023). 180:106367.
Hernandez E***, Lavner JA, Moore AM***, Stansfield BK, Beach SRH, Smith JJ, Savage JS. Sleep SAAF responsive parenting intervention improves mothers’ feeding practices: A randomized controlled trial among African American mother-infant dyads. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. (2022). 19(1):129.
Hohman EE, Savage JS, Marini ME, Anzman-Frasca S, Buxton OM, Loken E, Paul IM. Effect of the INSIGHT Firstborn Parenting Intervention on Secondborn Sleep. Pediatrics. (2022). 150(1).
Ruggiero CF**, Moore AM***, Marini ME, Kodish SR, McHale SM, Savage JS. A mixed methods study of siblings’ roles in maternal feeding practices in early childhood: an application of the learning from experience process. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. (2022). 19(1):64.
Moore AM***, Smith JJ, Stansfield BK, Savage JS, Lavner JA. Patterns and predictors of breast milk feeding from birth to age 4 months among primiparous African American mother-infant dyads. Nutrients. (2022). 14(11):2350.
McNitt KM**, Hohman EE, Rivera DE, Guo P, Pauley AM, Gernand AD, Symons Downs D, Savage JS. Underreporting of energy intake increases over pregnancy: an intensive longitudinal study of women with overweight and obesity. Nutrients. (2022). 14(11):2326.
Lavner JA, Savage JS, Stansfield BK, Beach SR, Marini ME, Smith JJ, Sperr MC, Anderson, TN, Hernandez E***, Moore AM***. Effects of the Sleep SAAF Responsive Parenting Intervention on Rapid Infant Weight Gain: A Randomized Clinical Trial of African American Families. Appetite. (2022).
Adams, EL**, Master L, Buxton OM, Savage JS. Sleep parenting practices are associated with infant self-soothing behaviors when measured using actigraphy. Sleep Medicine. (2022). 95:29-36.
Balantekin KN, Moore AM***, Ruggiero CF**, Savage JS. A Synthesis of Early Antecedents of Eating Behavior and Weight Status in Girls: The Legacy of Girls’ NEEDS Project. Appetite. (2022). 175:106052.
Francis LA, Rollins BY, Keller KL, Nix RL, Savage JS. Profiles of behavioral self-regulation and appetitive traits in preschool children: associations with BMI and food parenting practices. Frontiers in Nutrition. (2022). (9) Open Access Journal.
Ranghetti L, Rivera DE, Guo P, Visioli A, Savage JS, Symons Downs D. A control-based observer approach for estimating energy intake during pregnancy. International Journal of Robust and Nonlinear Control. (2022). 1-23.
Guo P, Symons Downs D, Savage JS, Deshpande S, Hohman E, Leonard K, Pauley AM. Optimizing Behavioral Interventions to Regulate Gestational Weight Gain With Sequential Decision Policies Using Hybrid Model Predictive Control. Computers and Chemical Engineering. (2022). (160):107721.
Ruggiero CF**, Marini ME, Llewellyn CH, McHale SM, Paul IM, Savage JS. Differences in sibling temperament are associated with differences in maternal use of food to soothe during infancy: A sibling analysis. Pediatric Obesity. (2022). 3:E12907.
Rosinger A, Bethancourt HJ, Latona C, John J, Kelyman A, Pauley AM, Leonard KS, Hohman EE, McNitt K**, Gernand AD, Symons Downs D, Savage JS. Variation in urine osmolality throughout pregnancy; A longitudinal, randomized-control trial among women with overweight and obesity. European Journal of Nutrition. (2022). 61(1):127-140.
Savage JS, Ruggiero CF**, Eagleton SG*, Marini ME, Harris HA***. The Feeding to Manage Child Behavior Questionnaire: Development of a tool to measure parents’ non-nutritive feeding practices in preschool-aged children. Appetite. (2022). 1;169:105849.
Lawton KN, Hess LB, McCarthy HL, Marini ME, McNitt KM*, Savage JS. Feasibility of using Facebook to engage SNAP-Ed eligible parents and provide education on eating well on a budget. Digital Health. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. (2022). 19(3):1457.
Leblanc E, Boisvert C, Catlin C, Lee M, Smith N, Vesco k, Savage JS, Mitchell D, Grub I, Stevens V. Prepare randomized clinical trial: acceptability, engagement, and lifestyle effects of a weight Loss intervention beginning in pre-pregnancy. Obesity Science & Practice. (2022). 1-14.
Hunter KE, Johnson BJ, Askie L, Golley RK, Baur LA, Savage JS, et al. Transforming Obesity Prevention for CHILDren (TOPCHILD) Collaboration: protocol for a systematic review with individual participant data meta-analysis of behavioral interventions for the prevention of early childhood obesity. BMJ Open. (2022). 12(1): e048166.
Johnson BJ, Hunter KE, Golley RK, Chadwick P, Barba A, Savage JS, et al. on behalf of the Transforming Obesity Prevention for CHILDren (TOPCHILD) Collaboration. Unpacking the behavioral components and delivery features of early childhood obesity prevention interventions in the TOPCHILD Collaboration: a systematic review and intervention coding protocol. BMJ Open (2022). 12(1):e048165.
Harris HA***, Moore AM***, Ruggiero CF**, Bailey-Davis L, Savage JS. Infant food responsiveness in the context of temperament and mothers' use of food to soothe. Frontiers in Nutrition. (2022). 8:781861. Open Access Journal.
Hohman EE, McNitt KM**, Eagleton SG**, Francis LA, Keller KL, Savage JS. Validation of a classroom version of the Eating in the Absence of Hunger paradigm in preschoolers. Frontiers in Nutrition. (2022). 8:787461.
Savage JS, Hochgraf AK, Loken E. Marini ME, Craig SJ, Makova KD, Birch LL, Paul IM. INSIGHT responsive parenting educational intervention for firstborns is associated with growth of secondborn siblings. Obesity. (2022). 30(1):183-190.
Nandy D, Craig SJ, Cai J, Tian Y, Paul IM, Savage JS, Marini ME, Hohman EE, Reimherr ML, Patterson AD, Makova KD, Chiaromonte F. Metabolomic profiling of stool of two-year old children from the INSIGHT study reveals links between butyrate and BMI. Pediatric Obesity. (2022). (1) e12833.
Eagleton, S**, Na M, Savage JS. Food insecurity is associated with higher food responsiveness in low-income children: the moderating role of parent stress and family functioning. Pediatric Obesity. (2022) (1):e12837.
Craig SJ, Kenney AM, Lin J, Paul IM, Birch LL, Savage JS, Marini ME, Chiaromonte F, Reimherr ML, Makovaa KD. Constructing a polygenic risk score for childhood obesity using functional data analysis. Econometrics and Statistics. 2021. 25:66-86.
Lo BK, McTernan ML, Haines J, Savage JS, Kugler KC, Haneuse S, Redline S, Taveras EM, Davison KK. Development and psychometric properties of the Sleep Parenting Scale for Infants (SPS-I). Behavioral Medicine. (2021). 1-11.
Symons Downs D, Savage JS, Rivera DE, Pauley AM, Leonard K, Hohman EE, Guo P, Stetter C, Kunselman A. Adaptive behavioral intervention impact on weight gain, physical activity, energy intake, and motivational determinants: Results of a feasibility trial in pregnant women with overweight/obesity. Journal of Behavioral Medicine. (2021). 44(5):605-621.
Hyczko AV, Ruggiero CF, Hohman EE, Anzman-Frasca S, Savage JS, Birch LL, Paul IM. Sex differences in maternal restrictive feeding practices in the Intervention Nurses Start Infants Growing on Healthy Trajectories Study (INSIGHT) Study. Academic Pediatrics. (2021). 21(6):1070-1076.
Rollins BY, Stein W, Keller KL, Savage JS. Preschoolers will drink their GREENS! Children accept, like, and drink novel smoothies containing dark green vegetables (DGVs). Appetite. (2021). 162:105148.
Leonard KS, Adams EL**, Savage JS, Paul IM, Kraschnewski JL, Pattison K, Kjerulff KH, Symons Downs D. Influence of prenatal perceived stress on postpartum weight retention is mediated by high gestational weight gain in women with overweight. Clinical Obesity. (2021). 11(3):e12446.
Ruggiero CF**, McHale SM, Paul IM, Savage JS. Learned experience and resource dilution: Conceptualizing sibling influences on parents’ feeding practices. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. (2021). 18(11):5739.
Na M, Eagleton SG**, Jomaa L, Savage JS. Head Start parents with or without food insecurity with lower food resource management skills use less positive feeding practices in preschool-age children. Nutrition. (2021). 151(5):1294-1301.
Eagleton SG**, Temple JL, Keller KL, Marini ME, Savage JS. The relative reinforcing value of cookies is higher among Head Start preschoolers with obesity. Frontiers in Psychology. April 2021. 12:653762.
Ruggiero CF**, Hohman EE, Birch LL, Paul IM, Savage JS. INSIGHT responsive parenting intervention effects on child appetite and parent feeding practices through age 3 years. Appetite. (2021). 159:105060.
Harris HA***, Kling S, Marini M, Hassink S, Bailey-Davis L, Savage JS. Agreement in infant growth indicators and overweight/obesity between community and clinical care settings. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. (2021). 121(3):493-500.
Mackeen AD, Young AJ, Lutcher S, Hetherington V, Mowery JW, Savage JS, Symons Downs D, Bailey-Davis L. Encouraging appropriate gestational weight gain in high-risk gravida: A randomized controlled trial. Obesity Science & Practice. (2021). 1-11.
Reigh NA, Rolls BJ, Savage JS, Johnson SL, Keller K. Development and preliminary testing of a technology-enhances intervention to improve energy intake regulation in children. Appetite. (2020). 155:104830.
Leonard KS, Pauley AM, Hohman EE, Guo P, Rivera DE, Savage JS, Buman MP, Symons Downs D. Identifying ActiGraph Non-Wear Time in Pregnant Women with Overweight or Obesity. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. (2020). (12):1197-1201.
Savage JS, Adams EL*, Rollins BY, Bleser JA, Marini ME. Teaching families to manage intake of candy in the home: Results from a feasibility study using multiphase optimization strategy (MOST). Obesity Science & Practice. (2020). 6(6): 649-659.
Kling SMR, Harris HA***, Cook A, Hess LB, Lutcher S, Marini ME, Mowery J, Hayward SB, Sword S, Hassink S, Franceschelli-Hosterman J, Paul IM, Seiler C, Savage JS, Bailey-Davis L. Advanced health information technologies to engage parents, clinicians, and community nutritionists to coordinate responsive parenting. JMIR Parenting and Pediatrics. (2020). 3(2):e22121.
Pauley AM, Hohman EE, Leonard KS, Guo P, McNitt KM*, Rivera DE, Savage JS, Downs DS. Short Nighttime Sleep Duration and High Number of Nighttime Awakenings Explain Increases in Gestational Weight Gain and Decreases in Physical Activity but Not Energy Intake among Pregnant Women with Overweight/Obesity. Clocks Sleep. (2020). 2(4):487-501.
Harris HA***, Anzman-Frasca S, Marini ME, Paul IM, Birch LL, Savage JS. Effect of a responsive parenting intervention on child emotional overeating is mediated by reduced maternal use of food to soothe: The INSIGHT RCT. Pediatric Obesity. (2020). 15(10):e12645.
Adams EL*, Master L, Buxton OM, Savage JS. Patterns of infant-only wake bouts and night feeds during early infancy: An exploratory study using actigraphy in mother-father-infant triads. Pediatric Obesity. (2020).
Roy M, Haszard JJ, Savage JS, Yolton K, Beebe DW, Xu Y, Galland B, Paul IM, Mindell JA, Mihrshahi S, Wen LM, Taylor B, Richards R, Te Morenga L, Taylor RW. Bedtime, body mass index and obesity risk in preschool-aged children. Pediatric Obesity. (2020). 15(9):e12650.
Adams EL*, Savage JS, Master L, Buxton OM. Time for bed! Earlier sleep onset is associated with longer nighttime sleep duration during infancy. Sleep Med. (2020). 73:238-245.
Hohman EE, Savage JS, Birch LL, Paul IM. The Intervention Nurses Start Infants Growing on Healthy Trajectories (INSIGHT) Responsive Parenting Intervention for Firstborns Affects Dietary Intake of Secondborn Infants. The Journal of Nutrition. (2020). 150(8):2139-2146.
Jomaa L, Na M, Eagleton SG*, Diab-El-Harake M, Savage JS. Caregiver's Self-Confidence in Food Resource Management Is Associated with Lower Risk of Household Food Insecurity among SNAP-Ed-Eligible Head Start Families. Nutrients. (2020). 12(8).
Anzman-Frasca S, Davison KK, Fisher JO, Francis LA, Johnson SL, Lavner JA, Paul IM, Ventura AK, Savage JS. Biography of Leann L Birch, PhD, 25 June 1946 - 26 May 2019. The Journal of Nutrition. (2020). 150(6):1343-1347.
Na M, Eagleton SG*, Jomaa L, Lawton K, Savage JS. Food insecurity is associated with suboptimal sleep quality, but not sleep duration, among low-income Head Start children of pre-school age. Public Health Nutr. (2020). 23(4):701-710.
Ruggiero CF*, Hohman EE, Birch LL, Paul IM, Savage JS. The Intervention Nurses Start Infants Growing on Healthy Trajectories (INSIGHT) responsive parenting intervention for firstborns impacts feeding of secondborns. Am J Clin Nutr. (2020). 111(1):21-27.
Adams EL*, Master L, Buxton OM, Savage JS. A longitudinal study of sleep-wake patterns during early infancy using proposed scoring guidelines for actigraphy. Sleep Med. (2019). 63:98-105.
Savage JS, Harris HA***, Bleser JA*, Rollins BY. Parents' and Children's Categorization of Candy are Similar: A Card Sort Protocol. Nutrients. (2019). 11(10).
Adams EL*, Marini ME, Brick TR, Paul IM, Birch LL, Savage JS. Ecological momentary assessment of using food to soothe during infancy in the INSIGHT trial. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. (2019). 16(1):79.
Paul IM, Hohman EE, Birch LL, Shelly A, Vallotton CD, Savage JS. Exploring infant signing to enhance responsive parenting: Findings from the INSIGHT study. Matern Child Nutr. (2019). (3):e12800.
Gernand AD, Taylor LA, Hohman EE, Verdiglione BS, Birch LL, Paul IM, Savage JS. Micronutrient Status Across Pregnancy in Women with Overweight and Obesity. Current developments in nutrition. (2019).
Savage JS, Hohman EE, McNitt KM*, Pauley AM, Leonard KS, Turner T, Pauli JM, Gernand AD, Rivera DE, Symons Downs D. Uncontrolled eating during pregnancy predicts fetal growth: The Healthy Mom Zone Trial. Nutrients. (2019). 11(4).
Bailey-Davis L, Kling SM, Wood GC, Cochran WJ, Mowery JW, Savage JS, Stametz RA, Welk GJ. Feasibility of enhancing well child visits with family nutrition and physical activity risk assessment on body mass index. Obesity Science & Practice. (2019).
Paul IM, Hohman EE, Birch LL, Shelly A, Vallotton CD, Savage JS. Exploring Infant Signing to Enhance Responsive Parenting: Findings from the INSIGHT Study. Maternal & Child Nutrition. (2019). (3):e12800.
Adams EL*, Marini ME, Leonard KS, Symons Downs D, Paul IM, Kraschnewski JL, Kjerulff KH Savage JS. Patterns of gestational weight gain and large-for-gestational age across consecutive pregnancies. Women's Health Issues. (2018).
Hohman EE, Balantekin KN, Birch LL, Savage JS. Dieting is associated with reduced bone mineral accrual in a longitudinal cohort of adolescent girls. BMC Public Health. (2018).
Guo P, Rivera DE, Pauley AM, Leonard KS, Savage JS, Symons Downs D. System Identification Approaches For Energy Intake Estimation: Enhancing Interventions For Managing Gestational Weight Gain. IEEE Transactions on Control Systems Technology. (2018).
Freigoun M, Rivera DE, Gernand AD, Pauli J, Guo P, Hohman EE, Pauley AM, Leonard KS, Symons Downs D, Savage JS. A Dynamical Systems Model of Intrauterine Fetal Growth. Mathematical and Computer Modelling of Dynamical Systems. (2018).
Pattison K, Kraschnewski JL, Lehman EB, Savage JS, Symons Downs D, Leonard KS, Adams EL*, Paul IM, Kjerulff KH. Breastfeeding Initiation and Duration and Child Health Outcomes in the First Baby Study. Preventive Medicine. (2018). 118:1-6.
Pauley AM, Hohman EE, Savage JS, Rivera DE, Guo P, Leonard KS, Symons Downs D. Gestational Weight Gain Intervention impacts determinants of healthy eating and exercise in overweight/obese pregnant women. Journal of Obesity. ( 2018)
Eagleton SG*, Hohman EE, Verdiglione BS, Birch LL, Paul IM, Savage JS. INSIGHT Study Maternal Return to Work and Infant Weight Outcomes. Academic Pediatrics. (2018).
Craig SJ, Blankenberg D, Parodi ACL, Paul IM, Birch LL, Savage JS, Marini ME, Stokes JL, Nekrutenko A, Reimherr M, Chiaromonte F, Makova KD. Child Weight Gain Trajectories Linked to Oral Microbiota Composition. Scientific Reports. (2018). Sep 19;8(1):14030.
Savage JS, Kling SM***, Cook A, Hess LB, Lutcher S, Marini ME, Mowery J, Hayward S, Hassink S, Hosterman JF, Paul IM, Seiler C, Bailey-Davis L. A Patient-Centered, Coordinated Care Approach Delivered by Community and Pediatric Primary Care Providers to Promote Responsive Parenting: Pragmatic Randomized Clinical Trial Rationale and Protocol. BMC Pediatrics. (2018). 18(1):293
Paul IM, Savage JS, Anzman-Frasca S, Marini ME, Beiler J, Hess LB, Loken E, Birch LL. Effect of a Responsive Parenting Educational Intervention on Childhood Weight Outcomes at 3 Years of Age: The INSIGHT Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Pediatrics. (2018). 320(5):461-468.
Savage JS, Hohman EE, Marini ME, Shelly A, Paul IM, Birch LL. INSIGHT responsive parenting intervention and infant feeding practices: randomized clinical trial. International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. (2018). 15(1):64.
Balantekin KN, Hohman EE, Adams EL*, Marini ME, Ventura AK, Birch LL, Savage JS. More rapid increase in BMI from age 5-15 is associated with elevated weight status at age 24 among non-Hispanic White females. Eating Behaviors. (2018). 31:12-17.
Anzman-Frasca SL, Paul IM, Moding KJ, Savage JS, Hohman EE, Birch LL. Effects of the INSIGHT Obesity Preventive Intervention on Reported and Observed Infant Temperament. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. (2018).
Symons Downs D., Savage JS, Rivera DE, Collins, LM, Smyth J, Rolls B, Hohman EE, McNitt K, Kunselman A, Stetter C, Pauley AM, Leonard KS, Guo P. Individually-Tailored, Adaptive Intervention to manage gestational weight gain: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial in Overweight and Obese Women. JMIR Research Protocols. (2018). 7(6):e150.
Zhu Y, Savage JS, Ghosh D. A kernel-based metric for balance assessment. Journal of Causal Inference. (2018).
Adams EL*, Marini ME, Stokes J, Birch LL, Paul IM, Savage JS. INSIGHT Responsive Parenting Intervention reduces infant's screen time and television exposure. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. (2018). 15 (1):24.
Bailey-Davis L, Kling SM***, Cochran WJ, Hassink S, Hess LB, Franceschelli-Hosterman J, Lutcher S, Marini ME, Mowery J, Paul IM, Savage JS. Integrating and coordinating care between the Women, Infants, and Children Program and pediatricians to improve patient-centered preventive care for healthy growth. Translational Behavioral Medicine. (2018).
Balantekin KN*, Birch LL, Savage JS. Family, friend, and media factors are associated with patterns of weight-control behavior among adolescent girls. Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity (2018). 23(2):215-223.
Hohman EE*, Savage JS, Birch LL, Beiler JS, Paul IM. Pacifier Use and Early Life Weight Outcomes in the Intervention Nurses Start Infants Growing on Healthy Trajectories Study. Childhood Obesity. (2017). 14(1):58-66.
Paul IM, Hohman EE*, Loken E, Savage JS, Anzman-Frasca S, Carper P, Marini ME, Birch LL. Mother-Infant Room Sharing and Sleep Outcomes in the INSIGHT Study. Pediatrics (2017). 140(1). pii: e20170122.
Adams EL*, Savage JS. From the children's perspective: What are candy, snacks, and meals? Appetite (2017). 116:215-222.
Rose CM*, Birch LL, Savage JS. Dietary patterns in infancy are associated with child diet and weight outcomes at 6 years. International Journal of Obesity (2017). 41(5):783-788.
Savage JS, Rollins BY*, Kugler KC, Birch LL, Marini ME. Development of a theory-based questionnaire to assess structure and control in parent feeding (SCPF). International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (2017). 14(1):9.
Hohman EE*, Paul IM, Birch LL, Savage JS. INSIGHT Responsive Parenting Intervention is associated with healthier patterns of dietary exposures in infants. Obesity (Silver Spring) (2017). 25(1):185-191.
English LK, Fearnbach SN, Wilson SJ, Fisher JO, Savage JS, Rolls BJ, Keller KL. Food portion size and energy density evoke different patterns of brain activation in children. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2017). 105(2):295-305.
Kugler KC, Balantekin, KN*, Birch LL, Savage JS. Application of the multiphase optimization strategy to a pilot study: an empirical example targeting obesity among children of low-income mothers. BMC Public Health (2016). 16(1):1181.
Balantekin KN*, Birch LL, Savage JS. Eating in the absence of hunger during childhood predicts self-reported binge eating in adolescence. Eating Behaviors (2016). 24:7-10.
Berger PK, Hohman EE*, Marini ME, Savage JS, Birch LL. Girls' picky eating in childhood is associated with normal weight status from ages 5 to 15 y. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. (2016). 104(6):1577-1582.
Savage JS, Neshteruk CD**, Balantekin KN*, Birch LL. Low-Income Women’s Feeding Practices and Perceptions of Dietary Guidance: A Qualitative Study. Maternal and Child Health Journal. (2016). 20(12): 2510-2517.
English LK, Fearnbach SN, Lasschuijt M, Schlegel A, Anderson K, Harris S, Wilson SJ, Fisher JO, Savage JS, Rolls BY, Keller KL. Brain regions implicated in inhibitory control and appetite regulation are activated in response to food portion size and energy density in children. International Journal of Obesity (2016). 40(10):1515-1522.
Paul IM, Savage JS, Anzman-Frasca SL, Marini ME, Mindell JA, Birch LL. INSIGHT Responsive Parenting Intervention and Infant Sleep. Pediatrics (2016). 138(1):e20160762.
Savage JS, Birch LL, Marini ME, Anzman-Frasca SL, Paul IM. Effect of the INSIGHT Responsive Parenting Intervention on Rapid Infant Weight Gain and Overweight Status at Age 1 Year: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Pediatrics. Journal Club Article of the Month. (2016). 170(8):742-9.
Coffman DL, Balantekin KN*, Savage JS. Using Propensity Methods to Assess Causal Effects of Mothers’ Dieting Behavior on Daughters’ Early Dieting Behavior. Pediatric Obesity (2016). 12(5):334-40.
Fearnbach SN, English LK, Lasschuijt M, Wilson SJ, Savage JS, Fisher JO, Rolls B, Keller K. Brain response to images of food varying in energy density is associated with body composition in 7- to 10-year-old children: Results of an exploratory study. SSIB Special Issue in Physiology & Behavior (2016). 162:3-9.
Savage JS, Birch LL. WIC mothers’ depressive symptoms are associated with greater use of feeding to soothe, regardless of perceived child negativity. International Journal of Pediatric Obesity (2016). 12(2):155-162.
Rose CM*, Savage JS, Birch LL. Patterns of early dietary exposures have implications for maternal and child weight outcomes. Obesity(Silver Spring) (2015). 24(2):430-8.
Rollins BY*, Savage JS, Fisher JO, Birch LL. Alternatives to restrictive feeding practices to promote self-regulation in childhood: a developmental perspective. Pediatric Obesity (2015). 11(5):326-32.
Balantekin KN*, Birch LL, Savage JS. Patterns of weight-control behavior among 15 year old girls. International Journal of Eating Disorders (2015). 48(6): 589-600.
Zhu Y, Ghosh D, Coffman DL, Savage JS, Birch LL. Estimating controlled direct effects of restrictivefeeding practices in the 'Early dieting in girls' study. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society. (2015). 88:11-6.
Birch LL, Savage JS, Fisher JO. Right sizing prevention. Food portion size effects on children's eating and weight. Appetite (2015). 88:11-6.
Zhu Y, Schonbach M, Coffman DL, Savage JS. Variable selection for propensity score estimation via balancing covariates. Epidemiology (2015). 26(2):E-14-5.
Symons Downs D, Rauff EL, Savage JS. Falling Short of Guidelines? Nutrition and Weight Gain Knowledge in Pregnancy. Journal of Women’s Health Care (2014). 3. pii: 10000184.
Balantekin KN*, Savage JS, Marini ME, Birch LL. Parental encouragement of dieting promotes daughters’ early dieting. Appetite. (2014). 80:190-6.
Paul IM, Savage JS, Anzman-Frasca SL, Beiler JS, Makova KD, Marini ME, Hess LB, Rzucidlo SE, Verdiglione N, Mindell JA, Birch LL. The Intervention Nurses Start Infants Growing on Healthy Trajectories (INSIGHT) study. BMC Pediatrics (2014). 14:184.
Savage JS, Symons Downs D, Dong Y, Rivera DE, Collins LC. Control systems engineering for optimizing a prenatal weight gain intervention to regulate infant birth weight. American Journal of Public Health (2014). 104(7):1247-54.
Rollins BY*, Loken E, Savage JS, Birch LL. Effects of restriction on children’s intake differ by child temperament, food reinforcement, and parent’s chronic use of restriction. Appetite (2014). 73:31-9.
Rollins BY*, Loken E, Savage JS, Birch LL. Maternal controlling feeding practices and girls’ inhibitory control interact to predict changes in BMI and EAH from 5 to 7 y. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2014). 99(2):249-57.
Rollins BY*, Loken E, Savage JS, Birch LL. Measurement of food reinforcement in preschool children: Associations with food intake, BMI, and reward sensitivity. Appetite (2014). 72:21-7.
Savage JS, Peterson J, Marini ME, Bordi P, Birch LL. The addition of a plain or herb-flavored reduced-fat dip is associated with improved preschoolers' intake of vegetables. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (2014). 113(8):1090-1095.
Lindgren JA*, Vernarelli JA, Savage JS, Hartman TJ. Is usual dietary pattern related to the risk of developing breast cancer? Current Nutrition Reports. (2013). 90-96.
Symons Downs D, DiNallo JM, Savage JS. Self-determined to exercise? Leisure-time exercise behavior, exercise motivation, and exercise dependence in youth. Journal of Physical Activity & Health (2013). 10(2):176-84.
Lindgren JA*, Dorgan JF, Savage JS, Coffman DL, Hartman TJ. Diet across the Lifespan and the Association with Breast Density in Adulthood. International Journal of Breast Cancer (2013). 2013:808317.
Savage JS, Haisfield L, Fisher JO, Marini ME, Birch LL. Do children eat less at meals when allowed to serve themselves? American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2012). 96(1):36-43.
Anzman-Frasca SL, Savage JS, Marini ME, Fisher JO, Birch LL. Repeated exposure and associative conditioning promote preschool children’s liking of vegetables. Appetite (2012). 58(2):543-53.
Savage JS, Fisher JO, Marini ME, Birch LL. Serving smaller age-appropriate entree portions to children aged 3-5 y increases fruit and vegetable intake and reduces energy density and energy intake at lunch. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2012). 95(2):335-41.
Paul IM, Savage JS, Anzman SL, Beiler JS, Marini ME, Stokes JL, Birch LL. Preventing obesity during infancy: a pilot study. Obesity (Silver Spring) (2011). 19(2):353-61.
Lanza ST, Savage JS, Birch LL. Identification and prediction of latent classes of weight-loss strategies among women. Obesity(Silver Spring) (2010). 18(4):833-40.
Savage JS, Birch LL. Patterns of weight control strategies predict differences in women’s 4-year weight gain. Obesity(Silver Spring) (2010). 18(3):513-20.
Savage JS, DiNallo JM, Symons Downs D. Adolescent body satisfaction: the role of perceived parental encouragement for physical activity. International Journal for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (2009). 6:90.
Savage JS, Hoffman L, Birch LL. Dieting, restraint, and disinhibition predict women’s weight change over 6 y. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2009). 90(1):33-40.
Savage JS, Marini ME, Birch LL. Dietary energy density predicts women's weight change over 6 y. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2008). 88(3):677-84.
Savage JS, Mitchell DC, Smiciklas-Wright H, Symons Downs D, Birch LL. Plausible reports of energy intake may predict body mass index in pre-adolescent girls. Journal of American Dietetic Association (2008). 108(1):131-5.
Symons Downs D, DiNallo JM, Savage JS, Davison KK. Determinants of eating attitudes among overweight and non-overweight adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health (2007). 41(2):138-45.
Savage JS, Fisher JO, Birch LL. Parental Influences on eating behavior: conception to adolescence. J Law Med Ethics (2007). Spring;35(1):22-34.
Birch LL, Savage JS, Ventura AK. Influences on the Development of Children's Eating Behaviours: From Infancy to Adolescence. Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research (2007). 68(1):s1-s56.

Refereed CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS:

Guo P, Rivera DE, Pauley AM, Leonard KS, Savage JS, Symons Downs D. A "Model-On-Demand" methodology for energy intake estimation to improve gestational weight control interventions. Proceedings of The 18th IFAC Symposium on System Identification. (2018).
Guo P, Rivera DE, Savage JS, Symons Downs D. State Estimation under Correlated Partial Measurement Losses: Implications for Weight Control Interventions. 20th International Federation of Automatic Control World Congress (2017). 14074-14079.
Guo P, Rivera DE, Symons Downs D, Savage JS, Pauley AM, Hess LB, Stetter, C. Semi-Physical Identification and State Estimation of Energy Intake for Interventions to Manage Gestational Weight Gain. Proceedings of the 2016 American Control Conference (2016). 1271-1276.
Dong Y, Deshpande S, Rivera DE, Symons Downs D, Savage JS. Hybrid model predictive control for sequential decision policies in adaptive behavioral interventions. Proceedings of the 2014 American Control Conference (2014). 4198-4203.
Dong Y, Rivera DE, Symons Downs D, Savage JS, Thomas DM, Collins LM. Hybrid model predictive control for optimizing gestational weight gain behavioral interventions. Proceedings of the 2013 American Control Conference (2013). 1970-1975.
Dong Y, Rivera DE, Thomas DM, Navarro-Barrientos JE, Symons Downs D, Savage JS, Collins LM. A dynamical systems model for gestational weight gain behavioral interventions. Proceedings of the 2012 American Control Conference (2012). 4059-4064.

Additional Information

Dr. Savage Williams is the Director for the Center of Childhood Obesity Research at The Pennsylvania State University and also an Assistant Professor within the Department of Nutritional Sciences. Her research focuses on developing effective prenatal and postnatal behavioral interventions to promote health and well-being across the lifespan. Dr. Savage Williams current research endeavors focus on 1) building, optimizing, and evaluating multi-faceted interventions delivered in multiple settings (community, health care, and home) that are designed to prevent pediatric obesity and 2) using an intergenerational approach that targets gestational weight gain to ultimately improve maternal/infant health and impact the etiology of obesity at a critical time in the life cycle. She has developed clinical and community partnerships including the American Academy of Pediatrics, The Pennsylvania Women, Infants, and Children Program, and Head Start in an effort to conduct research that will serve as the evidence basis for developing successful interventions to prevent maternal and childhood obesity among high-risk populations in rural Pennsylvania.

Dr. Savage Williams actively publishes peer-reviewed manuscripts, research articles, and abstracts in several journals including: Obesity, Journal of Women’s Health Care, Appetite, BMC Pediatrics, American Journal of Public Health, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Journal of Physical Activity, Journal of Behavioral Nutrition, and Journal of Adolescent Health. She completed her undergraduate work with a dual major in Nutrition and Dietetics at Mansfield University in Mansfield, PA. She received her Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences from The Pennsylvania State University, focusing on the patterns and predictors of weight change among women.

Courses Taught

Nutrition 532 Childhood Obesity
Nutrition 490W Nutrition Seminar
Nutrition 456 Community Nutrition
Nutrition 297 Healthy Food For All: Bridging the Gap Between Policy and Poverty
Nutrition 251 Introductory Principles of Nutrition