Faculty Profile for Dr. Lauren Butler

profile photo for Dr. Lauren Butler
Dr. Lauren Butler
Assistant Professor — School of Family & Consumer Sciences
FCS 297A
phone: (512) 408-7265
Scholarly/Creative Work
Grants
Service

Biography Section

Biography and Education

 I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and serve as an Assistant Professor in the Nutrition and Foods Program. I completed my doctoral degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the Gillings School of Global Public Health, where I was trained as a nutrition epidemiologist. I completed postdoctoral work with the University of Florida’s Health Disparities Research and Intervention Program, where I conducted community-engaged research and interventions. My current research aims to advance social justice and health equity through weight-inclusive and non-diet behavioral health interventions. I utilize a mixed methods systems-approach to develop population-specific strategies to eliminate weight stigma, heal body image and disordered eating behaviors, and improve cardiometabolic health among marginalized communities. I lead the Food Freedom Research Team through which I mentor graduate and undergraduate students to address internal and external fatphobia, healthism, ableism, racism, weight bias and mental health stigma. My recent work includes understanding perspectives on using a weight-inclusive approach to address body image concerns and disordered eating among LGBTQ+ community members.

Teaching Interests

 Community Nutrition
Nutrition Across the Lifespan
Nutrition Education

Research Interests

 Weight-Inclusive Behavioral Health Interventions
Weight Stigma, Body Image and Disordered Eating Behaviors
Cardiometabolic Health
Public Health Nutrition and Nutrition Epidemiology
Social Justice, Health Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Selected Scholarly/Creative Work

  • Gutierrez, A., Goode, R., Slining, M., & Butler, J. L. (2023). Differences in intentional weight loss strategies according to race/ethnicity among US women, NHANES 2007 – 2018. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics., 123(9). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2023.06.204
  • Laviolette, C. P., Johnson, C. M., Butler, J. L., Biediger-Friedman, L. M., & Sharkey, J. R. (2023). Nutrition effects of a family-centered behavioral nutrition program for Mexican-heritage children in colonias in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Nutrients, 15(7), 1600. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15071600
  • Butler, J. L., Gordon-Larsen, P., Steffen, L. M., Shikany, J. M., Jacobs, D. R., Popkin, B. M., & Poti, J. M. (2023). Associations of 5-year changes in alcoholic beverage intake with 5-year changes in waist circumference and BMI in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study. PLOS ONE. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0281722
  • Ferrer, A., Biediger-Friedman, L. M., Butler, J. L., Johnson, C. M., & McClain, A. C. (2023). Resources, constraints, and food security management and coping strategies for Latina/o parents and caregivers. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 55(7S), 40. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2023.05.087
  • Butler, J. L. (2018). Associations of alcoholic beverage consumption with dietary intake, waist circumference and BMI in US adults, NHANES 2003-2012. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 118(3), 409–420. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2017.09.030

Selected Grants

  • Butler, Jennie Lauren. Development of Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire to Assess Pork and Traditional Food Intake among Persons of Mexican Heritage in Central Texas, American Society for Nutrition Foundation, National Pork Board, $10000. (Funded: August 1, 2023 - Present). Grant.
  • Butler, Jennie Lauren (Principal), Ross, Jenifer (Co-Principal), Poole, Jacey (Supporting). Perspectives on body image, disordered eating and Health at Every Size® among LGBTQ+ Community Members, University of North Florida Office of Undergraduate Research, Institutional (Higher Ed), $1000. (Funded: August 2022 - January 2024). Grant.

Selected Service Activities

Member
Weight Inclusive Nutrition and Dietetics (WIND)
March 15, 2023-Present
Organizer
Nutrition LEADers Research Circle
January 2023-Present
Member
Faculty Search Committee (Open Rank Professor in Nutrition)
August 2023-Present
Member
American Society for Nutrition
June 2023-Present
Member
International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA)
April 2023-Present