About

Nutrition promotion & disease prevention research lab at UC Irvine led by Matthew Landry, PhD, RDN

Research topics

• Medicine
• Environmental health
• Internal medicine
• Nursing
• Sociology
• Political Science
• Endocrinology
• Computer Science
• Demography
• Geography
• Physical therapy
• Gerontology
• Business
• Surgery
• Public relations
• Psychology
• Mathematics education

Selected publications

• Experiences of food insecurity among college students caring for children and/or other dependents: a scoping review

  Nutrition Research Reviews · 2026-01-01

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  College students (those enrolled in two- and four-year postsecondary institutions) with caregiving responsibilities for children or other dependents face unique challenges balancing academic and caregiving duties. This scoping review aimed to describe the prevalence of food insecurity among United States college student caregivers and their experiences with food insecurity, dietary quality/intake, academic outcomes, and food security programming. A search of peer-reviewed and grey literature was conducted in four databases: CINAHL, Google Scholar, Embase, and Medline. Identified articles were evaluated against inclusion criteria. Of 162 articles identified, 61 articles met eligibility criteria and underwent data extraction and descriptive analysis. Forty-two articles (69%) reported the prevalence of food insecurity among college student caregivers, with prevalence ranging from 9% to 79%. Single parents, students of colour, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those with multiple dependents had increased food insecurity risk. Thirteen studies examined dietary patterns, finding caregiving students prioritised feeding their children, reduced their own meal sizes, and chose low-cost, low-nutrient foods due to budget constraints. Academic challenges included difficulties in time management and scheduling stress. No studies examined Grade Point Average (GPA) or academic performance. Thirteen studies identified the use of food assistance programmes. Food assistance programmes were underutilised due to limitations such as restricted pantry hours and availability. Housing insecurity frequently co-occurred with food insecurity. Food insecurity disproportionately affects college student caregivers compared to non-caregiving students. Comprehensive programming is needed to support food and nutrition security, including connections to government and university food assistance programmes, childcare services, and programme modifications to reduce barriers to academic success for caregiving students.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Lifestyle management approaches for obesity

  Journal of clinical lipidology · 2026-01-01 · 1 citations

  article1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Multi-level Factors Influencing College Campus Basic Needs Service Utilization: A Focus on Latino Immigration-Impacted Students in California

  Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities · 2026-01-06

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Immigration-impacted college students face unique challenges that increase their risk of experiencing basic needs insecurity. This study examined multi-level factors influencing the use of campus basic needs centers among Latino immigration-impacted students attending the University of California (UC). We analyzed three Latino undergraduate student populations: (1) undocumented immigrants, (2) U.S. citizens with undocumented immigrant parents, and (3) U.S. citizens with lawfully present parents. Survey data was collected by the UC Collaborative to Promote Immigrant and Student Equity (UC PromISE) from March-June 2020 at nine University of California campuses. Variables related to the Health Equity Framework were examined in relation to Basic Needs Center (BNC) use through descriptive and logistic regression analyses. Among 1,875 students who identify as Latina/o/x (mean age 20.6 ± 2.4 years; 77% female; 93% first-generation college students), 59% experienced food insecurity and 33% used their campus’ BNC in the past month. Living off-campus (not residing with family) was associated with more frequent BNC use across all groups. Living on-campus and reporting food insecurity were associated with BNC use for undocumented students and U.S. citizens with lawfully present parents. Family economic insecurity and use of other campus resources were associated with BNC use for undocumented students and U.S. citizens with undocumented parents. Social exclusion and threat to family due to exclusionary immigration policy were also associated with more frequent BNC use among U.S. citizen students with undocumented parents. Results highlight that common food insecurity risk factors are associated with BNC use while also underlining how Latino immigration-impacted students experience distinct social, economic, and legal factors that are associated with more frequent BNC use.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Meaning, Purpose, and Spirituality in Lifestyle Medicine and Healthcare: A Review of Current Research

  American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine · 2026-03-05

  articleOpen access

  Background: Understanding the state of the science linking meaning, purpose, and spirituality (MPS) to health outcomes is key to advancing the integration of MPS into lifestyle medicine. Objective: This review aimed to summarize existing research on the use of MPS in lifestyle medicine and healthcare, emphasizing gaps and proposing directions for future research. Methods: A narrative literature review of articles abstracted in PubMed was conducted in conjunction with an in-person summit on MPS and lifestyle medicine in March 2025. This narrative review was organized around the existing science linking MPS to health outcomes, measures of MPS, potential mechanisms accounting for the links between MPS and health outcomes, MPS interventions, potential moderators of the effects, and directions for future research. Results: There are consistent, small to moderate effects that link MPS to increased longevity, improved physical and mental health, and better well-being. Several psychometrically supported measures of MPS exist. Interventions incorporating MPS, especially for populations with advanced illnesses, show promise to improve health and well-being. MPS likely contributes to health through several biopsychosocial pathways. Conclusion: Future work is needed to examine the impact of implementing MPS into lifestyle medicine practice, using rigorous methods, and evaluating its effect on patient outcomes.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• From Ancient Enemas to Tube Feeding, II: Clinical Outcomes and Future Directions Surrounding Commercial Versus Food-Based Formulas in Critical Illness

  American Journal of Critical Care · 2025-11-01

  review

  This article is the second in a 2-part series examining the role of commercial and food-based enteral formulas in critical illness. Part I (published in the September 2025 issue of AJCC) reviewed the historical evolution, administration, and nutritional content of formulas; part II focuses on clinical outcomes and future directions. Enteral feeding is essential in the intensive care unit to support patients who cannot meet nutritional needs orally. Although commercial formulas remain the standard of care, the use of food-based formulas is expanding. In this part of the review, we examine the evidence comparing commercial versus food-based formulas across gastrointestinal symptoms (eg, constipation, diarrhea, reflux), renal effects (eg, electrolyte disturbances, uremia), and endocrine effects (eg, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance). We also explore nonclinical outcomes such as patient satisfaction, circadian rhythm effects, environmental considerations, and access disparities. Notably, much of the current evidence arises from pediatric or outpatient settings, underscoring the need for high-quality research in intensive care unit populations. These evolving patterns highlight critical gaps in knowledge that must be addressed to optimize intensive care unit nutrition practices. Together with part I, this article offers a comprehensive overview to guide evidence-based selection and implementation of enteral nutrition in critical care.

  PublisherDOI

• Vegetarian Dietary Patterns for Adults: A Position Paper of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

  Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics · 2025-12-31 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Corrigendum to ‘Vegetarian and Vegan Dietary Patterns to Treat Adult Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials’ [Advances in Nutrition. 2024;15(10)]

  Advances in Nutrition · 2025-01-28 · 1 citations

  reviewOpen access
  PublisherDOI

• Ensuring that Behavioral Strategies, Nutrition, and Culinary Education Are Key Components of Food is Medicine

  Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior · 2025-05-01 · 3 citations

  editorialOpen accessSenior author
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Effect of low-carbohydrate vs low-fat diet intervention on visceral fat estimated from dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in a 12-month randomized controlled trial

  International Journal of Obesity · 2025-12-23

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Abstract P3098: Differences in Diet Quality Across US Census 2020 Regions: A Secondary Analysis in the Women’s Health Initiative

  Circulation · 2025-03-11

  article1st authorCorresponding

  Diet quality is a key modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular health. Racial and ethnic disparities in diet quality have been well-documented. However, few studies test how geographical context affects these associations in older women. Furthermore, these inequities have been reported to be unevenly distributed across different geographic regions in the United States (US). This analysis aimed to examine differences in diet quality across the four US Census 2020 regions (i.e., Northeast, Midwest, South, West) using data from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study. Informed by prior studies, we hypothesized that diet quality would differ across the four US Census regions, with the Northeast having the highest diet quality and the South having the lowest diet quality. In a secondary analysis of baseline data from the WHI, a large-scale longitudinal study of postmenopausal women, participants' dietary intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. A Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2020) score was calculated as a measure of overall diet quality. Linear regression models were used to compare HEI-2020 scores across the four US Census regions adjusting for relevant sociodemographic covariates (age, education, income, employment, marital status, and race and ethnicity). In 161,299 women (M age = 63.2 ±7.2) with dietary intake data, mean HEI-2015 scores differed across regions, with the highest score in the West (63.7 ±0.1) and the lowest score in the Northeast (62.1 ±0.1). These regional differences persisted even after adjusting for sociodemographic covariates (p<0.001). Statistically significant interactions between race/ethnicity and census region on HEI-2020 total score were observed. Non-Hispanic White women living in the West region had the highest diet quality (64.9 ±0.2), while Hispanic women of any race in the Northeast had the lowest diet quality (61.1 ±0.1). This analysis reveals significant regional differences in diet quality among postmenopausal women across the US. Contrary to our hypothesis, WHI participants in the West region exhibited the healthiest diets and women in the Northeast region exhibited the least healthy diets. Findings highlight a need for targeted dietary assessments and public health initiatives to assess for regional differences in dietary intake. Given the disparities in diet observed in this analysis, other population-wide cohort studies should further account for potential geographic differences involving diet analyses.

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Sarvenaz Vandyousefi

  VA NY Harbor Healthcare System

  48 shared

• Jaimie N. Davis

  The University of Texas at Austin

  41 shared

• Reem Ghaddar

  The University of Texas at Austin

  34 shared

• Fiona M. Asigbee

  The University of Texas at Austin

  32 shared

• Christopher D. Gardner

  Stanford University

  28 shared

• Matthew Jeans

  The University of Texas at Austin

  26 shared

• Anthony Crimarco

  Stanford University

  11 shared

• Catherine Ward

  9 shared

Labs

• Landry LabPI

Education

• Doctor of Philosophy, Nutritional Science

  The University of Texas at Austin

  2019

• Bachelors of Science, Nutrition and Food Sciences

  Louisiana State University

  2015

Awards & honors

• UC Washington Center (UCDC) Presidential Policy Fellow (2025…
• Outstanding Early Career I Professional Award, American Soci…
• Madeline Martin Swinden Memorial Lecture, UCI (2024)
• Fellow of the American Heart Association, American Heart Ass…
• Ethan Sims Young Investigator Award, The Obesity Society (20…