University of Pittsburgh Department of Epidemiology

Wendy King, PhD

Research Assistant Professor
Department of Epidemiology
A533 Crabtree Hall
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA 15261
Phone: 412-624-1612
Fax: 412-624-7397
E-mail: kingw@edc.pitt.edu

Research Interests

Physical activity and dietary interventions to prevent and treat obesity

Behavioral interventions
Environmental interventions

How the social and physical environments influence physical activity participation and healthy diet

Racial and economic disparities in health as a function of disparities in environment

Bariatric surgery

Bariatric surgery and physical activity (PA)

How does PA influence weight loss post surgery?
Independent of weight loss, how does PA influence resolution of co-morbidities post surgery?
What influences PA behavior in the bariatric population pre and post surgery?

Psychosocial indicators of poor outcome
Behavioral and nutritional interventions to improve outcome

Education & Training

University of California, San Diego- B.S. Biology, 1998
University of Pittsburgh- Ph.D. Epidemiology, 2004

Positions Held

2007-current - Research Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh

2005-2007 - Research Associate, Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh

2004-2005 - Research Specialist, Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh

2003 - Teaching Fellow, Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh

2000-2002 - Graduate Student Researcher, Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh

Honors

2008 - Allied Health Research Award, first place, the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS)

2004 - Best Dissertation Award, Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh

2002 - Dean Day Award, third place, Graduate School of Public Health University of Pittsburgh

Current Projects:

Principal Investigator of a pilot study to determine "usual" walking speed (mph) and the walking speeds that equate to moderate intensity activity and vigorous activity by weight status, as well as the step rate for each speed/intensity which can be used to determine step rate cut points for moderate and vigorous activity (CRDF Small Grants Program)
Co-Principal Investigator of a pilot study examining how features of the built and social environment conducive to healthy diet and physical activity vary by neighborhood racial composition and socioeconomic characteristics in Pittsburgh, PA (RAND and Univ. of Pittsburgh Health Institute)
Co-Investigator of Data Coordinating Center for the Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery (LABS) (NIDDK)
Statistical support for the Obesity and Nutrition Research Center (NIH)

Selected Publications

King WC, Belle SH, Eid GM, Dakin GF, Inabnet WB, Mitchell JE, Patterson EJ, Courcoulas AP, Flum DR, Chapman WH, Wolfe BM. Physical activity levels of patients undergoing bariatric surgery. 2008 Surg Obes Relat Dis 4(3):365 (abstract). Manuscript in press.

Gosman GG, King WC, Schrope B, Steffen KJ, Strain GW, Courcoulas AP, Flum DR, Pender JR, Simhan HN. Reproductive health characteristics of women undergoing bariatric surgery. 2008 Surg Obes Relat Dis 4(3):303-304.

Belle S, Chapman W, Courcoulas A, Flum D, Gagner M, Inabnet W, King WC, Mitchell M, Patterson E, Thirlby R, Wolfe B, Yanovski S. The Relationship of BMI with Demographic and Clinical Characteristics in Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery. Surg Obes Relat Dis. In press.

Simkin-Silverman LR, Conroy M, King WC. Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Primary Care Practice American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. In press.

King WC, Belle SH, Brach JS, Simkin-Silverman LR, Soska T, Kriska AM. Objective measures of neighborhood environment and physical activity in older women. Am J Prev Med. 2005 Jun;28(5):461-9. Erratum in: Am J Prev Med. 2005 Oct;29(3):245-6.

Simkin-Silverman LR, Gleason KA, King WC, Weissfeld L, Buhari A, Boraz M, Wing R. Predictors of weight control advice in primary care practices: patient health and psychosocial characteristics. Prev Med. 2005 Jan;40(1):71-82.

King WC, Brach JS, Belle S, Killingsworth R, Fenton M, Kriska AM. The relationship between convenience of destinations and walking levels in older women. Am J Health Promot. 2003 Sep-Oct;18(1):74-82.