M.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics at Florida International University, Miami in 1998
Ph.D. in Nutrition, Minor Epidemiology at School of Public Health, UNC Chapel Hill in 2002
CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES
R.D. in Florida International University, Dietetic Interns in 1998
Dissertation Title: Development of a composite diet quality assessment tool for the U.S. preschool-age population
AWARDS AND HONORS
1997
Outstanding Dietetics Student Award
American Dietetic Association
1997
Faculty Recognition Award
Florida International University, Department of Nutrition
1998
Merit Award
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
1999
Research Service Award
National Institute of Health (NIH)
2001
Outstanding Student Award
American Public Health Association-Food and Nutrition Section
2007
Certificate of Appreciation
American Public Health Association-Food and Nutrition Section
2008
Certificate of Appreciation
American Public Health Association-Food and Nutrition Section
DISCOVERY
Dietary intake issues in young children, especially in two- through five-year olds, have not received as much attention as younger or older age groups of children. Diet behavior is shaped during the preschool-age years and the effect of diet quality on children’s health has been widely recognized. Furthermore, dietary intake habits track into adulthood and continue to affect the individual’s health. Therefore, improving the diets of the pediatric population is an important public health goal.
There is a need to increase our understanding of the factors involved in pediatric nutrition and the prevention of childhood obesity as well as other chronic diseases; my research aims to contribute to that body of knowledge by studying nationally representative data as well as by collaborating on the national and international level on studies exploring the diet-disease relationships in children and young adults.
Discovery Publications (selected)
Cheng G, Gerlach S, Libuda L, Kranz S, Günther ALB, Karaolis-Danckert N, Kroke A, Buyken AE. Diet quality in childhood is prospectively associated with the timing of puberty, but not with body composition at puberty onset. J Nutr, 2009 in print.
Kranz S, Mitchell D, Smiciklas-Wright H, Huang S, Kumanyika SS, Stettler N. Food group consumption levels in a sample of low-income children varies by body weight status. J Am Diet Assoc. 109:702-707, 2009
Eng S, Wagstaff DA, Kranz S. Eating late in the evening is associated with childhood obesity in some age groups but not in all children: the relationship between time of consumption and body weight status in U.S. children. JISBNPA, 6:27, 2009
Wagstaff DA, Kranz S, Harel O. A preliminary study of active compared with passive imputation of missing body mass index values among non-Hispanic white youths. Am J Clin Nutr: 89:1025–30, 2009
Kranz S, Findeis JL, Shresta SS. Use of the Revised Diet Quality Index for Children to assess preschoolers’ diet quality, its sociodemographic predictors, and its association with body weight status. J Pediatr (Rio J).84:26-34, 2008
Ruder EH, Dorgan JF, Kranz S, Kris-Etherton PM, Hartman TJ. Examining breast cancer lifestyle risk factors: Early life, childhood and adolescence. Clinical Breast Cancer. 8:334-342, 2008
Kranz S, Lin PJ, Wagstaff DA. U.S. children’s dairy intake: Too little, too fat? (NHANES 1999-2002). J Ped. 151: 642-646, 2007
Kranz S. Mahood LJ. Wagstaff DA. Diagnostic criteria patterns of U.S. children with Metabolic Syndrome: NHANES 1999-2002. Nutr J. 6:38, 2007
Kranz S. Who is meeting the DRI for fiber? Socio-demographic determinants of dietary fiber intake in preschoolers 2-5 years old using the CSFII 1994-96 and 1998. Am J Pub Health. 96:1538-41, 2006
Kranz S, Hartman TJ. Siega-Riz AM, Herring A. A diet quality index based on current dietary intake guidelines and an indicator of energy balance. J Am Diet Assoc.105:221-25, 2006
ENGAGEMENT
Parents and caretakers of young children struggle with numerous intake issues. Phases of neophobia (the dislike of new foods) or the so called "food fads" (time periods of extreme preference for one or few foods) contribute to the problem of low diet quality in young children. Education of caretakers will increase awareness and provide support for the efforts of improving the diets of young children.
Engagement Publications (selected)
The development of continuing education workshop material (DVD and education module) for parents and caretakers of young children titled "The importance of dietary fiber in preschool-age children" which is distributed by the Pennsylvania State University Extension Service.
LEARNING
Courses
Life Cycle Nutrition: Undergraduate course examining the nutritional needs and current issues in the U.S. population as they pertain to the life stages (pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, infancy, preschool-age, school-age, adolescents, young; middle; and late adulthood).
Diet and Disease: Undergraduate course examining diet-disease relationships and the appropriate nutrition interventions using the model of the Nutrition Care Process.
Maternal, Infant, and Child Nutrition: Graduate course exploring the effect of nutrition on pregnancy, maternal and infant health, and child nutrition using examples from current literature.
Nutrition Epidemiology: Graduate course examining various study designs and their implications on measures of associations, strength of associations, cause-and-effect, and limitations in study designs and data interpretations.
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES
I have research collaborations with scientists from various disciplines in several European countries, such as Germany, Holland, and Sweden. As a member of the European Childhood Obesity Group (ECOG), I interact with many European scientists on a regular basis and present my research at international meetings such as ECOG and ICDAM.
During my tenure at Pennsylvania State University, I served as a member of the
College of Health and Human Development, International Advisory Committee and chaired the
College of Health and Human Development, Jena Exchange Program Committee from 2006-2008.
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Contact Information
Foods and Nutrition Purdue University 700 W. State Street West Lafayette, IN 47907-2059
