About

Dr. Andrea L Deierlein is the Director of Public Health Nutrition and an Associate Professor of Public Health Nutrition at NYU School of Global Public Health. Her research focuses on examining how dietary, behavioral, and environmental factors contribute to reproductive health outcomes and chronic-disease development throughout the lifespan. She is trained as a nutritional epidemiologist and has extensively studied predictors and outcomes of maternal metabolic health-related conditions during pregnancy and postpartum, including excessive gestational weight gain, hyperglycemia, and obesity. Dr. Deierlein contributed to a systematic evidence-based review on pregnancy weight gain outcomes at the Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality, which informed the 2009 Institute of Medicine Gestational Weight Gain Guidelines. Her research has expanded to include the study of toxic environmental chemicals and metals, with a focus on endocrine-disrupting toxicant exposures during childhood and their association with anthropometric changes during adolescence among girls. She has also conducted analyses on maternal prenatal exposures to phthalates and their relation to weight gain and cardiometabolic biomarkers during pregnancy and postpartum. Recently, her work has included investigating disparities in nutrition and reproductive health among populations with disabilities.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Environmental health
• Internal medicine
• Demography
• Environmental chemistry
• Psychiatry
• Environmental science
• Chemistry
• Virology
• Obstetrics

Selected publications

• Receipt of postpartum diabetes screening after gestational diabetes mellitus in the United States, 2016–2022

  Diabetic Medicine · 2026-04-10

  articleSenior authorCorresponding

  AIMS: To examine temporal trends in, as well as social and clinical factors associated with, the prevalence of postpartum diabetes screening after gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in the United States (U.S.). METHODS: Cross-sectional, population-based data were from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) 2016-2022 from 44 U.S. states and jurisdictions. The analytic sample included postpartum individuals with self-reported GDM who attended a postpartum checkup and reported on postpartum diabetes screening (n = 21,559). Overall and annual prevalence of postpartum diabetes screening were calculated, and associations between social and clinical factors and postpartum diabetes screening were examined using multivariable modified Poisson regression (adjusted prevalence ratios [aPR] with 95% confidence intervals [CI]). RESULTS: Overall weighted prevalence of postpartum diabetes screening was 55.8% (95% CI: 54.8-56.9). Screening prevalence increased from 2016 (55.6%) to 2019 (60.3%), declined at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020: 52.6%) and subsequently increased through 2022 (55.8%). Screening prevalence was 6%-38% higher among individuals who were ≥30 years of age; identified as racial or ethnic minoritized groups; did not graduate from high school; had public prenatal health insurance; had pre-pregnancy overweight or obesity and had adequate plus prenatal care. Screening prevalence was 5%-14% lower among individuals with a previous live birth, preterm birth and residents of rural areas, the South or U.S. Territories. CONCLUSIONS: While postpartum diabetes screening has increased and aligns with recognized risk factors, overall prevalence remains suboptimal. Postpartum diabetes screening represents a critical opportunity to identify individuals at elevated cardiometabolic disease risk and initiate timely interventions.

  PublisherDOI

• Exclusive breastfeeding and postpartum depression: A protective association that is not modified by feeding intentions

  PLoS ONE · 2026-01-06

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Approximately 13% of women in the United States (U.S.) experience postpartum depression (PPD), a mood disorder that negatively affects maternal and infant wellbeing. Breastfeeding may protect against PPD and breastfeeding intentions may moderate this relationship. This study examined the association between breastfeeding status and PPD symptoms and whether exclusive breastfeeding intentions moderate this relationship in low-income women in the U.S. We utilized data from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Infant and Toddler Feeding Practices Study-2, a longitudinal cohort study of caregiver feeding practices and nutrition outcomes among children enrolled in WIC. Exclusive breastfeeding intentions were measured prenatally; breastfeeding status at 1 month; and PPD symptoms at 3 months postpartum using the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (elevated PPD symptoms defined as EPDS ≥ 10). We conducted logistic regression to examine the association between breastfeeding status and elevated PPD symptoms. We stratified the analysis by exclusive breastfeeding intention-status groups to assess moderation. Adjusted models controlled for self-reported maternal ethnicity, annual household income, and smoking during pregnancy. The analytic sample included 2,022 mothers who identified their race as Black or African American (20.7%), White (58.8%), or other (20.6%), and their ethnicity as Hispanic (48.1%) or non-Hispanic (51.9%). The majority were ≥20 years old (88.2%), not married (68.2%), and had a high school education or less (62.7%). Compared to mothers who exclusively breastfed, those who combination fed (AOR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.23-3.40) or exclusively formula fed (AOR 2.03; 95% CI 1.16-3.42) at 1 month had higher odds of elevated PPD symptoms. Exclusive breastfeeding intentions did not moderate this relationship. While exclusive breastfeeding was associated with a lower likelihood of experiencing elevated PPD symptoms, the majority of participants did not meet their exclusive breastfeeding intentions, highlighting the need for enhanced breastfeeding support.

  PublisherDOI

• Association between behavioural risk factors for hypertension and concordance with the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension dietary pattern among South Asians in the Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America (MASALA) study

  Journal of Nutritional Science · 2025-01-01 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access

  South Asians are among the fastest-growing immigrant population group in the United States (U.S.) with a unique disease risk profile. Due in part to immigration and acculturation factors, South Asians engage differently with behavioural risk factors (e.g. smoking, alcohol intake, physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and diet) for hypertension, which may be modified for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Using data from the Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America cohort, we conducted a cross-sectional analysis to evaluate the association between behavioural risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diet. We created a behavioural risk factor score based on smoking status, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and TV watching. We also calculated a Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) dietary score based on inclusion of relevant dietary components. We used both scores to examine the association between engaging with risk factors for hypertension and the DASH diet among a cohort of South Asian adults. We found that participants with 3-4 behavioural risk factors had a DASH diet score that was 3 units lower than those with no behavioural risk factors (aβ: -3.25; 95% CI: -4.28, -2.21) and were 86% less likely to have a DASH diet score in the highest category compared to the lowest DASH diet score category (aOR: 0.14; 95% CI: 0.05, 0.37) in the fully adjusted models. These findings highlight the relationship between behavioural risk factors for hypertension among South Asians in the U.S.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Estimating days needed for dietary assessment in pregnancy: a modeling study

  American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · 2025-11-21

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Fresh funds for moms: feasibility of a 12-week online food as medicine grocery prescription program for women with food insecurity and gestational diabetes

  Frontiers in Health Services · 2025-09-03 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  Introduction: Pregnant women with food insecurity experience high rates of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Food as medicine and grocery prescription (GPx) programs have been successful in increasing food access and managing chronic disease; however, they are often not implemented during pregnancy. Methods: This was a pilot study of Fresh Funds for Moms, an online grocery prescription (GPx) program. Pregnant women between 20 and 28 weeks' gestation were purposefully recruited from one large hospital system in an urban community in Kentucky. Eligibility included: positive screening for food insecurity; diagnosis of either GDM, type 2 diabetes, or hypertension; and live in a zip code with online grocery service delivery access. Women received $200 per month for 12 weeks (total of $600) for healthy food purchases on an online grocery platform. Results: A total of 1,163 women were initially screened; 20 women were referred to participate in the program and 14 completed the program. On average, women redeemed 96.1% of their grocery benefit throughout the pilot GPx program. Fruit and vegetable purchases increased 4% from months one to three (27%-31%), while the percentage of funds spent on meat food items decreased from 31% to 22% by the third month, and percentage spent on pantry items remained consistent month-to-month (4%). Qualitative findings highlight overall satisfaction, however, participants reported some transactional confusion when redeeming their funds on the online grocery platform and a desire for more variety when selecting food items for delivery. Blood glucose and blood pressure improved slightly, however no clinically meaningful changes in HgbA1c were observed. Discussion: This pilot study demonstrated the feasibility of implementing a GPx program in collaboration with clinical, research, and industry partners as a food as medicine intervention. Online GPx programs have the potential for improving healthy shopping habits among pregnant women. However, to improve screening, referral, and enrollment, a larger system approach is needed to meet patients' needs, warranting further investigation in larger, adequately powered studies.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Receipt of Screening, Services, and Counseling During Perinatal Health Care Visits by Disability Status in the United States, 2018–2020

  Obstetrics and Gynecology · 2025-11-25

  article1st authorCorresponding

  OBJECTIVE: To examine the receipt of screening, services, and counseling during prepregnancy reproductive health, prenatal care, and postpartum care visits by disability status among people with recent live births in the United States. METHODS: Cross-sectional data were from 24 states in PRAMS (Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System) that included the WGSS (Washington Group Short Set of Questions) on Disability (October 2018-December 2020). Participants reported receipt of screening, services, and counseling during prepregnancy reproductive health care visits, prenatal care visits, and a postpartum checkup at 4-6 weeks postdelivery. Associations between the extent of disability (some and a lot of difficulty vs none) and components of health care visits were estimated using modified Poisson regression, adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics (adjusted prevalence ratios [aPRs] and 95% CIs). RESULTS: A total of 41,027 participants were included in analyses; 33.7% (n=14,047) reported having some difficulty and 6.2% (n=2,714) reported having a lot of difficulty. Differences were observed for screening, services, and counseling received at health care visits by disability status. During prepregnancy reproductive health care visits, people with any difficulty reported similar receipt of care as those with no difficulty, with the exception of a lower prevalence of discussions about improving their health (aPR 0.92; 95% CI, 0.86-0.98) and sexually transmitted infections (aPR 0.89; 95% CI, 0.83-0.95). During prenatal and postpartum visits, people with any difficulty had a lower prevalence of discussions about lifestyle behaviors, pregnancy weight gain and weight loss, interpersonal violence, mental health, breastfeeding, and birth control, as well as being tested for diabetes (aPR ranged from 0.72-0.99). CONCLUSION: Perinatal health care visits provide opportunities to improve health and assist in the transition to parenthood. Our findings highlight the need for strategies to reduce barriers to care for people with disabilities and facilitate effective communication during visits.

  PublisherDOI

• Food-Specific Morning and Night Intake Scores Are Associated with Impaired Glucose Tolerance during Pregnancy

  Journal of Nutrition · 2025-08-15

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Healthcare Utilization Around the Time of Pregnancy by Extent of Disability in the U.S., 2018–2020

  American Journal of Preventive Medicine · 2025-12-05

  article1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Infant dietary patterns and early childhood weight outcomes: a secondary analysis from the Starting Early Program Trial

  Research Square · 2025-11-25

  preprintOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Nutritional Modulation of the Gut Microbiome in Relation to Prenatal Lead-Induced Neurotoxicity: A Review

  Nutrients · 2025-11-26

  reviewOpen access

  Prenatal exposure to lead (Pb) is a well-established risk factor for adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. Despite its recognized risks, prenatal Pb exposure remains largely unregulated and poorly addressed in public health policy. Evidence suggests that the gut microbiome may mediate the neurotoxic effects of metals, offering a potential target for intervention. Here we discuss how nutritional factors, particularly those influencing the gut microbiome, may reduce the neurotoxicity of prenatal Pb exposure.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Recent grants

• Effects of BPA and Phthalates on Adiposity and Metabolic Risk Factors in Women

  NIH · $733k · 2015–2020

Frequent coauthors

• Anna Maria Siega‐Riz

  University of Massachusetts Amherst

  114 shared

• Julie Knaack

  St. Joseph-Krankenhaus

  106 shared

• Kathleen N Lohr

  106 shared

• Sunni L. Mumford

  University of Pennsylvania

  106 shared

• Patricia Thieda

  106 shared

• Linda J Lux

  University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

  106 shared

• Merry-K Moos

  University of Manchester

  105 shared

• Meera Viswanathan

  RTI International

  102 shared

Education

• PhD

  University of North Carolina

• MPH

  Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health

• MS

  Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons

Awards & honors

• Travel Scholarship, Be Our Voice Childhood Obesity Preventio…
• New York Academy of Sciences Education Fellowship (2012)
• Postdoctoral Fellowship in Pediatric Environmental Health, I…
• Travel Scholarship, Researching Women’s Environmental Health…
• Travel Scholarship, Childhood Obesity Symposium, University…