Determinants of trends in overweight among preschool children in domestic and international settings, with emphasis on socio-cultural, behavioral and environment influences on the development of overweight/obesity and related chronic diseases. Research of determinants and trends of over- and undernutrition, with emphasis on the double burden of diseases on low income, multi-ethnic populations. Design and evaluation of maternal and child health and nutrition programs in international settings (e.g. Brazil, El Salvador, Argentina, Bangladesh).  Development and evaluation of programs, policies, and communication strategies to prevent and control overweight/obesity and related chronic diseases with special focus on early childhood. Translational research including development of applied research methodology (e.g. integrated quantitative and qualitative methods, case studies, rapid assessment procedures) to understand factors that hinder and/or facilitate the translation and utilization of research results into practice (e.g. design of new program/services, design of policies).

Dr. Lindsay has conducted several studies focusing on child health, nutrition and physical activity in both the United States and Latin America, including:

• Latina mothers’ child feeding practices and child overweight (PI)
• Influences on physical activity of low-income, Latino preschool-aged children and their parents (PI)
• Childhood Obesity Prevention: A Model for School-Based Dental Programs (Co-Inv.)
• Evaluation of “Getting to the Heart of the Matter” (GHM): Using Emotion-Based Techniques to Implement VENA in the Massachusetts WIC Program (Co-PI)
• Social Context and Feeding Practices in Public Child Care Centers (aka Creches) in Ceara (Co-PI)
• Brazilian mothers’ child feeding practices within the context of a rapid nutrition transition (PI)
• Adoption and sustainability of the Healthy Choices-II, multi-component school-based intervention (Co-PI)
• Perceptions of Child Weight Status, Feeding Practices, and Household Food Insecurity Among Low-Income Mothers in Buenos Aires, Argentina: A qualitative Study (PI)
• Social and economic predictors of dietary carbohydrate among low-income, multi-ethnic, post-partum women (Co-Investigator)
• Developing strategies for the adoption of the new international growth reference (Co-PI)
• Household management of diarrheal diseases in Ceara, Northeast Brazil: Mothers’ knowledge, beliefs and care practices (PI)
• Uses of data evaluating community-based growth monitoring in Brazil (PI)
• Process evaluation of Ceara’s program of combat of nutritional deficiencies (PI)
• Infant mortality and inadequate weight gain among children 0-24 months of age in Ceara, Northeast Brazil (PI)

Currently, Dr. Lindsay is principal investigator of a study combining qualitative and quantitative methods to examine influences on physical activity of young Latino children (1R21 CA13176401A1) funded by the National Cancer Institute.  The proposed study will use qualitative methods to explore parental, family and home environment, and social-cultural influences on children's physical activity and sedentary behaviors; and identify barriers and facilitators to providing opportunities for physical activity from the perspectives of parents and WIC Program staff serving Latino populations in Rhode Island. Quantitative data on physical activity of parents and preschool children assessed by accelerometry and parental report will complement qualitative themes used to design an educational intervention to be administered by WIC. Four sequential phases include: Phase I:  A: focus group discussions with parents of preschool-aged children enrolled in the WIC program in the state of Rhode Island, and B: In-depth interviews with WIC staff; Phase II: measurement of objective and reported physical activity of n=30 parents and their preschool-aged children; Phase III: development of an educational intervention that addresses: (a) parental, (b) family/home environment, and (c) socio-cultural influences on physical activity and sedentary behaviors of low income, Latino preschool children; Phase IV: qualitative evaluation and refinement of materials and protocols, resulting in a fully developed educational intervention suitable for formal testing through a subsequent RO1 application. The proposed research will add to current knowledge not only through a focus on low-income, Latino preschool children and their families, but also demonstrating the potential role organizations such as the WIC Program can play in building parenting capacity and skills through educational interventions to promote increased physical activity and decreased sedentary behaviors of this population at high risk of overweight.

Currently, she is also Co-PI of a study examining social contextual influences on feeding practices and nutritional status of children (2-5 years) attending public child care centers (aka crèches) in the municipality of Sobral, Ceara, Northeast Brazil.  This study being conducted in collaboration with colleagues at the Federal University of Ceara and funded by the Ministry of Health and Ceara's Foundation for Research and Development will examine factors associated with the development of overweight and obesity among low-income children.  

Dr. Lindsay is also collaborating a on a grant funded by the Fogarty International Center, NIH (1R25TW007505-01A1 (Fawzi, PI) entitled "Fostering Opportunities for Nutrition and Global Health Frameworks Program". This program will address three substantive areas: nutrition and infectious disease, nutrition and perinatal and child health, and nutrition and chronic diseases and promote a multi-disciplinary approach to addressing the centrality of nutrition, its effect on demographic transitions in developing countries including India, Tanzania and Brazil.  Specific aims include establishing a framework bringing together the proposed activities and various other activities related to nutrition and global health; developing new, multidisciplinary curricula and courses; offering internships to students from Harvard matched with students at the collaborating sites; and creating a seminar series and annual symposia on nutrition and global health.

       Pending Grants:

Lindsay AC, Sussner KM, Greaney M, Peterson KE. Latina Mothers' Beliefs and Practices related to Weight Status, Feeding and the Development of Child Overweight.  Public Health Nurs. (PHN-08-0092). In Press.

Lindsay AC, Sussner KM, Greaney M, Peterson KE. Influence of Social Context on Eating, Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors of Latina Mothers' and Their Preschool-Aged Children. Health Educ Behav. 2009 Feb;36(1):81-96. Epub 2008 Aug 8.

Lindsay AC, Tavares Machado M, Sussner KM, Hardwick C, Peterson K.  Brazilian mothers' beliefs, attitudes and practices related to child weight status and early feeding within the context of nutrition transition. J Biosoc Sci. 2009; 41 (1): 21-37.

Sussner KM, Lindsay AC, Peterson KE. The Influence of Maternal Acculturation on Breastfeeding Incidence and Duration in Latino Immigrants. (2008) J Biosoc Sci. 2008; 40(5):673-96.

Sussner KM, Lindsay AC, Greaney ML, Peterson KE. The Influence of Immigrant Status and Acculturation on the Development of Overweight in Latino Families: A Qualitative Study.

Sussner KM, Lindsay AC, Peterson KE. The influence of maternal acculturation status on early child BMI at 24 and 36 months in Latino immigrants. J Am Diet Assoc. 2009 Feb;109(2):218-25.

Lindsay AC, Sussner KM, Greaney ML, Mierzwa S, Rich-Edwards J, Wiecha J, Peterson K. Understanding the Data-Action Cycle of Surveillance: A Qualitative Study of Federal and State Stakeholders.  Health Prom Practice (HPP775-07) (in press).

Lindsay AC, Tavares Machado M, Sussner KM, Hardwick C., Peterson KE. (2008) Infant feeding practices and beliefs about weaning among low-income Brazilian mothers: a qualitative study. Food Nutr Bull, Vol.29(1): 15-24.

Lindsay AC, Dubowitz T., Andrade FM, Peterson KE. (2007) Maternal Health Care Services in the State of Ceará, Northeast Brazil. Journal of Women Health and Urban Life; Vol. VI (1): 60 - 78.

Colón-Ramos U, Lindsay AC, Monge-Rojas R, Greaney M, Campos H, Peterson KE.  (2007) Translating research into action: a case study on trans fatty acid research and nutrition policy in Costa Rica Health Policy and Plan.;22(6):363-74.

Greaney, M.L., Hardwick, C., Megzebu, S., Lindsay, A.C., Roover M.L.; Peterson, K.E. (2007) Assessing the feasibility of a multi-program intervention to promote physical activity and healthful eating in middle schools prior to wide-scale implementation. American Journal of Health Education; 38(5): 250-257.

Dubowitz T, Acevedo-Garcia D, Salkeld J, Lindsay AC, Subramanian SV, Peterson KE. (2007) Lifecourse, immigrant status and acculturation in food purchasing and preparation among low-income mothers. Public Health Nutr.;10(4):396-404.

Greene GW, Peterson KE, Nebeling L, Greaney ML, Lindsay AC, Hardwick C, Toobert D, Resnicow K, Williams G, Elliot D, Goodman Sher T, McGregor HA, Domas A, Breger R. (2007) A Qualitative Study of a Nutrition Working Group. Health Promotion and Practice; 8 (3); 299 - 306.

Tavares Machado MM, Galvão MTG, Kerr-Pontes LRS, Alves da Cunha AJL, Leite AJM, Lindsay AC, Leite RD, Leite CAC. (2007) Access and use of infant formula and other foods among children born to HIV positive mothers. Práticas alimentares entre crianças nascidas de mulheres com HIV/Aids, no nordeste do Brasil. Revista Eletronica de Enfermagem, vol. 09 (no.3): 699-711.

Lindsay AC, Kim J, Mucha KT, Gortmaker S. “The Role of Parentis in Preventing Childhood Obesity." Future Child 2006;16(1):169-86.

Greene GW, Peterson KE, Nebeling L, Greaney ML, Lindsay AC, Hardwick C, Toobert D, Resnicow K, Williams G, Elliot D, Goodman Sher T, McGregor HA, Domas A, Breger R. The behavioral change consortium nutrition working group: A qualitative and descriptive study of effective collaboration. Health Promot Pract 2006; in press.

Lindsay AC. Integrating quantitative and qualitative methods to assess the impact of child survival programs in developing countries: the case of a program evaluation in Ceara, Northeast Brazil. Health Educ Behav 2002; 29(5):570-584.

Terra de Souza AC, Svitonne E, Peterson KE, Gardner J, do Amaral MIV. Underlying and proximate determinants of diarrhea-specific infant mortality rates among municipalities in the State of Ceara, Northeast Brazil: an ecological study. J Biosoc Sci 2001; 33(2):227-44.

Terra de Souza AC, Peterson KE, Gardner J, Andrade MF, Ascherio A. The circumstances of post-neonatal deaths in Ceara, northeast Brazil: mothers’ health care-seeking behaviors during their infants fatal illnesses. Soc Sci Med 2000;51:1675-1693.

Torres A., Peterson KE., De Souza AC., Orav J., Hughes M., Chen L. Association of diarrhea and upper respiratory infections with weight and height gains in Bangladeshi children 5 to 11 Years. Bull World Health Organ 2000; 78(11):1316-1323.

De Souza AC, Peterson KE, Svitonne E, Craveiro V, Gardner J, Ascherio A. Risk factors for inadequate weight gain in children 0-23 months among municipalities in the State of Ceara, northeast Brazil: the role of health services and socio-economic variables. Bull World Health Organ 1999;77(11):895-905.

Terra de Souza AC., Svitonne E., Peterson KE., Gardner J., do Amaral MIV., Ascherio A. Variations in infant mortality Rates among municipalities in the State of Ceara, northeast Brazil: an ecological analysis. Int.J. Epidemiol 1999;28:267-275.

Hossain A, De Souza AC, Marsh D. Health information systems: the experience of Save the Children/Bangladesh field office. In: Community-Based Health Information Systems. Westport, CT. 1995

Peterson KE, Lindsay AC, Hatoum I. "Toward Comprehensive Nutrition and Physical Activity Surveillance." CDC. 2004

Peterson KE, Lindsay AC. "Building Comprehensive Obesity Surveillance." CDC. 2004.

Peterson KE, Lindsay AC, Mucha KT, Frongillo Jr., E. "Developing Strategies for the Adoption of the New International Growth Reference." WHO. 2003.

Terra de Souza AC, Peterson KE, Gardner J, Andrade MF, Ascherio A. Circunstancias de obitos pos-neonatais no Ceara: A via Sacra das maes a procura de atencao a saude por ocasiao da doenca que levou ao obito de seus filhos. UNICEF/Ceara, Brasil. 2001.

Post-Doctoral Student, Harvard University, 2000
DrPH, Harvard School of Public Health, 1998
MPH, Harvard School of Public Health, 1993
DDS, Campos School of Dentistry, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1987