Lauren Au, PhD, RD

Lauren Au

Principal Investigator

3215 Meyer Hall

Dr. Au’s research is centered on identifying effective behavior change interventions to improve nutrition education, dietary quality, and health behaviors in low-income mothers, infants, and children, as well as evaluate school-based nutrition policies and programs to reduce obesity in underserved populations. Primarily her research involves understanding how to promote healthier eating and prevent obesity through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children and the National School Lunch Program. The overall goal of her research is to provide evidence-based research to support strong nutrition policies for low-income populations.


 

Education and Degree(s)
  • 2013, PhD Food Policy and Applied Nutrition, Tufts University, Boston MA
  • 2009, MS Nutrition and Public Health, Columbia University, New York NY
  • 2007, BS Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, University of California, Berkeley CA
Publications
  • Wilde P, Hennessy E, Wright C, Barnosky A, Au LE, Zhang Q, Khavjou O. Investment in Telehealth Is Associated with Cost Savings for Some WIC Nutrition Education and Breastfeeding Support Services. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2026 May 8:S1499-4046(26)00057-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2026.02.015. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42101411.
  • Lemmon B, Grummon AH, Marquez A, Soederberg Miller LM, Au LE, Brown SD, Wang A, Powell LM, Falbe J. Efficacy of front-of-package nutrient labels designed for mandatory implementation in the USA: an online randomised controlled trial. Lancet Public Health. 2026 Apr;11(4):e221-e232. doi: 10.1016/S2468-2667(26)00027-7. PMID: 41887825.
  • Au LE, Thompson HR, Ritchie LD, Sun B, Zimmerman TP, Whaley SE, Reat A, Sankavaram K, Borger C. Longer WIC Participation Is Associated With Higher Diet Quality and Consumption of WIC-Eligible Foods Among Children 2-5 Years Old. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2025 Oct;125(10):1443-1457.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2024.11.012. Epub 2024 Nov 25. PMID: 39603593.
  • Au LE, Arnold CD, Domfe C, Ritchie LD, Whaley SE, Bitler M, Frongillo EA. Diet Quality and Weight Status are Predicted by Federal Nutrition Assistance Program Participation, Health, and Demographics. Curr Dev Nutr. 2025 Jul 9;9(8):107505. doi: 10.1016/j.cdnut.2025.107505. PMID: 40761945; PMCID: PMC12320653.
  • Lang IM, Kim Y, Ritchie LD, Au LE, Colabianchi N. Looking to the past: Investigating 10-year place histories as a determinant of home food environments in the Healthy Communities Study. Soc Sci Med. 2024 Dec;363:117478. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.117478. Epub 2024 Nov 5. PMID: 39536654; PMCID: PMC12147666.
  • Zuercher MD, Harvey DJ, Au LE, Shadyab AH, Santiago-Torres M, Liu S, Shivappa N, Hébert JR, Robbins JA, Garcia L. Energy-Adjusted Dietary Inflammatory Index and Diabetes Risk in Postmenopausal Hispanic Women. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2024 Nov;124(11):1431-1439. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2023.08.002. Epub 2023 Aug 5. PMID: 37544374; PMCID: PMC10839112.
  • Tsai MM, Anderson CE, Whaley SE, Yepez CE, Ritchie LD, Au LE. Associations of Increased WIC Benefits for Fruits and Vegetables With Food Security and Satisfaction by Race and Ethnicity. Prev Chronic Dis. 2024 Mar 28;21:E19. doi: 10.5888/pcd21.230288. PMID: 38547021; PMCID: PMC10996387.
  • Au LE, Arnold CD, Ritchie LD, Lin SK, Frongillo EA. Differences in Infant Diet Quality Index by Race and Ethnicity Predict Differences in Later Diet Quality. J Nutr. 2023 Dec;153(12):3498-3505. doi: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.10.010. Epub 2023 Oct 18. PMID: 37858725; PMCID: PMC10843900.
  • Whaley SE, Anderson CE, Tsai MM, Yepez CE, Ritchie LD, Au LE. Increased WIC Benefits for Fruits and Vegetables Increases Food Security and Satisfaction Among California Households with Young Children. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2023 Oct;123(10):1440-1448.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2023.05.018. Epub 2023 May 18. PMID: 37209964.
  • Anderson CE, Au LE, Yepez CE, Ritchie LD, Tsai MM, Whaley SE. Increased WIC Cash Value Benefit is Associated with Greater Amount and Diversity of Redeemed Fruits and Vegetables among Participating Households. Curr Dev Nutr. 2023 Aug 3;7(9):101986. doi: 10.1016/j.cdnut.2023.101986. PMID: 37662701; PMCID: PMC10469066.