Assistant Professor
BA in Psychology, Columbia University, 2000PhD in Health Policy, Harvard University, 2007
Bloomberg School of Public Health
Health Policy and Management
International Health, Health, Behavior and Society
My research aims to reduce the escalation of obesity and its related diseases by exploring important research questions related to the intersection between public policy and obesity prevention/control. Most of my research has focused on understanding global trends in adult obesity, obesity-related risk communication, access to health care services for individuals with obesity-related conditions and trends in sugar-sweetened beverage consumption. Going forward, I am particularly interested in examining disparities in practice patterns of obesity care and novel environmental strategies designed to reduce caloric consumption or increase physical activity.
adult obesity (assessment, global trends, causes, health consequences, prevention); policy analysis; access to care for chronic diseases; health disparities; vulnerable populations; international health; obesity-related risk communication; complex data analysis
Most Outstanding Abstract, International Conference on Obesity 2006 – Sydney, Australia (“Does utilization of hypertensive treatment among Mexican adults depend on supply side infrastructure or insurance status?”) -
Harvard GSAS Dissertation Completion Fellowship, 2006 – 2007 -
Harvard Graduate Prize Fellowship, 2003 - 2006 -
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Training Grant (T32), 2002-2003
Research Projects
A store-based intervention to reduce sugar-sweetened beverage consumption among low income, black adolescents
Examine the effects of a store-based, environmental intervention which provides caloric information regarding sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB).
Formative Research to Understand Key Barriers to Implementing a Farm to Table Program in the Navajo Nation
The purpose of this study is to conduct formative research, among local farmers, school administrators/food service staff and small store owners living and working on the Navajo Nation (NN) in Arizona, to improve our understanding of the barriers to participation in F2T programs and identify...
Health Outcomes of Bariatric Surgery in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes
The goal of this project is to explore the benefits and risks of bariatric surgery in obese individuals with type 2 diabetes.
Racial Disparities in Physician Practice Patterns and Self-Management of Obesity
The goal of this research is to examine racial disparities in physician delivery of obesity-related health care services; identify the multilevel explanatory factors underlying racial disparities in individual self-management of body weight; and determine key patient- and provider-level barriers...
Sociodemographic disparities in caloric literacy and perceived usefulness of calorie posting on restaurant menu boards
We collected nationally-representative public opinion data to explore sociodemographic disparities in consumer knowledge of daily caloric requirements and perceived usefulness of caloric information on menus
Bleich SN, Koehlmoos TK, Rashid M, Peters D, Anderson G (2010). "Noncommunicable chronic disease in Bangladesh: Overview of existing programs and priorities going forward
Health Policy." Health Policy. In press. -
Bleich SN, Clark JM, Goodwin SM, Huizinga MM, Weiner JP (2010). "Variation in provider identification of obesity by individual-level and neighborhood-level characteristics among an insured population." Journal of Obesity. Vol. 2010 Article -
Bleich SN, Pollack KM (2010). "The publics' understanding of calories and their perceptions if calorie labeling: Implications for future legislation." BMC Public Health. Vol. 10. Issue 121. Article -
Bleich SN, Pickett-Blakely O, Cooper LA (2010). "Physician Practice Patterns of Obesity Diagnosis and Weight-Related Counseling." Patient Education and Counseling. Article -
Bleich SN, Huizinga MM, Beach MC, Cooper LA(2010) "Patient Use of Weight Management Activities: A Comparison of Patient and Physician Assessments." Patient Education and Counseling. Vol. 79. Issue 3. 344-350. Article -
Huizinga MM, Bleich SN, Beach MC, Clark JM, Cooper LA (2010) "Disparity in Physician Perception of Patients’ Adherence to Medications by Obesity Status" Obesity. Article -
Bleich SN, Thorpe RJ, Sharif-Harris H, Fesahazion R, LaVeist TA (2010) "Social context explains race disparities in obesity among women." Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. Vol. 64. 465-469. Article -
Bleich SN (2009) “A roadmap for encouraging a healthier environment.” Epidemic Proportions. Vol.6 Issue 1. 41-43. Article -
Bleich SN and Sturm R (2009). “Developing policy solutions for a more active nation: Integrating economic and public health perspectives.” Preventive Medicine. Vol 49. 306-308. Article -
Huizinga MM, Beach MC, Bleich SN, Clark JM, Cooper LA (2009). “Physician Respect for Patients with Obesity.” Journal of General Internal Medicine. Vol 9. 1104-8. Article -
Bleich SN (2009). "The Role of Health Professionals in Reducing Obesity Disparities." Bariatric Nursing and Surgical Patient Care. Vol. 4 (1), 3-5. Editorial -
Bleich SN, Özaltin E, Murray CJL (2009). "What is the relationship between satisfaction with the health care system and patient experience?" Bulletin of the World Health Organization. Vol. 87, 271-278. Article -
Bleich SN, Wang YC, Wang Y, Gortmaker SL (2009). “Increasing consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages among U.S. adults: 1988-1994 to 1999-2004” American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Vol. 89 No. 1, 372-381. Article -
Bleich SN (2008). "Public perception of overweight." BMJ. Vol. 337, a347. Editorial -
Wang YC, Bleich SN, Gortmaker SL (2008). "Increasing caloric contribution from sugar-sweetened beverages and 100% fruit juices among US children and adolescents, 1988-2004." Pediatrics. Vol. 121 No. 6, e1604-e1614. Article -
Bleich SN, Cutler D, Murray CJL, and Adams A (2008). “Why is the developed world obese?” Annual Review of Public Health Vol. 29, 273-295. Article -
Bleich SN, Cutler D, Adams A, Lozano R, Murray CJL (2007). “Impact of insurance and supply of health professionals on coverage of treatment for hypertension in Mexico: Population based study.” BMJ. Vol. 335 No. 7625, 875-882 Article -
Bleich SN, Blendon RJ, and Adams A (2007). “Trust in scientific experts on obesity: Implications for awareness and behavior change.” Obesity. Vol. 15, No. 8, 2145-2156. Article -
Bleich SN (2007). “Is it all in a word? The effect of question wording on US support of HIV/AIDS spending.” Harvard International Journal of Press and Politics. Vol. 12, No. 2, 120-132. Article -
Bleich SN and Taylor-Clark K (2005). “Black men on the “down low” and the HIV epidemic: The need for research and intervention strategies.” Harvard Journal of African American Public Policy. Vol. 11, 13-20. -
Book Chapters
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Bleich SN, Blendon RJ, "Public opinion and obesity," in Robert J. Blendon, Drew E. Altman, Mollyann Brodie, and John M. Benson eds., American Public Opinion and Health Care Policy (Washington: CQ Press, forthcoming September 2010), Chapter 17. -
Reports
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Bleich SN. “Medical errors: Five years after the IOM report,” Policy brief prepared for the John F. Kennedy School of Government/Commonwealth Fund Bipartisan Congressional Health Policy Conference, January 2005, Aventura, Florida. Article -
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