Division of Epidemiology and Community Health
School of Public Health
Twin Cities
Award Year
2020
University Award
Distinguished McKnight University Professors
Section A
, Location 14
Changing the future for vulnerable populations through access to nutritious foods
Obesity contributes to more than 400,000 deaths in the U.S. each year, while millions of Americans lack access to healthy, affordable foods. Melissa Laska tackles these interconnected human health risks by investigating the challenges of young people in transition to adulthood, the most vulnerable stage for excess weight gain, and the dynamics of urban “food deserts.” She uses her findings to advance crucial nutrition promotion practices and local, state, and federal policies addressing food access.