Wendy Wolfe
Research Associate
2008
HENutrSci Web Bio Page
Current Activities
Current Extension Activities
A major effort right now is collaborating with 4-H to support their statewide 4-H Choose Health
initiative, which encourages healthy eating and active living within both statewide and local level 4-H activities. I am particularly involved in Choose Health at 4-H Camp and the teen Choose Health
Ambassadors project in after-school settings, both of which include an
environmental assessment component as well as education, and I co-chair
the 4-H Healthy Lifestyles Program Work Team. I also provide research-based technical assistance and training related to childhood obesity prevention to CCE Food and Nutrition in Communities (FNEC) educators and others throughout the
state, and help integrate nutrition
into other youth programming efforts.
Biography
Biographical Statement
Dr. Wolfe received her Ph.D. from the Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, in 1991, and has been a Research Associate in the Division since that time. Dr. Wolfe has conducted research in the areas of childhood obesity, child nutrition and the elementary school environment, food insecurity, community-based nutrition monitoring, postpartum weight retention, and dietary methodology. Since 2003, she has focused on childhood obesity prevention within Cornell Cooperative Extension, providing research-based technical assistance and training to local educators and others throughout the state, and participating in related program evaluation research. Dr. Wolfe was a key author of the Cornell NutritionWorks on-line course "Preventing Childhood Obesity: An Ecological Approach," and was the founding chair of the statewide coalition “New York State Action for Healthy Kids,” part of a national initiative to improve the health and educational performance of children through better nutrition and physical activity in schools. Prior to getting her PhD, Dr. Wolfe worked as a Public Health Nutritionist and WIC Coordinator for the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe in northern NY.
Education
Cornell University Ph.D. 1991 Community Nutrition
Cornell University M.S. 1983 International Nutrition
Northwestern University B.S. 1981 Anthropology
Courses, Websites, Pubs
Selected Publications
Wolfe WS, Frongillo EA, Valois P. Understanding the Experience of Food Insecurity by Elders Suggests Ways to Improve Its Measurement. Journal of Nutrition. 2003; 133:2762-2769.
Wolfe WS, Frongillo EA Jr, Cassano PA. Evaluating brief measures of fruit and vegetable consumption frequency and variety: Cognition, interpretation and other measurement issues. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 2001;101:311-318.
Wolfe WS, Sobal J, Olson CM, Frongillo EA Jr, Williamson DF. Parity-associated weight gain and its modification by sociodemographic and behavioral factors: a prospective analysis in US women. International Journal of Obesity, 1997; 21:802-810.
Wolfe WS, Olson CM, Kendall A, Frongillo EA Jr. Understanding food insecurity in the elderly: a conceptual framework. Journal of Nutrition Education, 1996; 28(2):92-100.
Wolfe WS, Campbell CC, Frongillo EA Jr, Haas JD, and Melnik TA. Identifying overweight school children in New York State: prevalence estimates and related characteristics. American Journal of Public Health, May 1994; 84 (5).
Wolfe WS. Dietary Change Among the Navajo: Implications for Diabetes. In Diabetes as a Disease of Civilization: The Impact of Culture Change on Indigenous People, R.S. Young and J.R. Joe, Eds. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter, 1994.
Wolfe WS, Campbell CC. Food pattern, diet quality and related characteristics of school children in New York State. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 1993; 93:1280-1284.
Wolfe WS, Bremmer B, Ferris-Morris M. Monitoring the Nutrition of Your Community: A How-To Manual. Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, 1992, 196 pp.