Lisa M. Powell, PhD
Senior Research Scientist
Lisa Powell is a research professor in the Department of Economics and a senior research scientist at the Institute for Health Research and Policy at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). She also holds an appointment as a Fellow at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Prior to joining UIC, Dr. Powell was an associate professor of economics in the School of Policy Studies at Queen's University.
Professor Powell has published and presented numerous papers in the area of labor economics. More recently, her research has focused on the economics of health. She has examined the impact of alcohol use among youth and educational and violence-related outcomes and the importance of peer effects on youth smoking behavior. Much of Professor Powell's current work focuses on the impact of economic and environmental factors on physical activity and obesity.
Research Interests
Dr. Powell's current research is on assessing the importance of economic and environmental factors (such as food prices and access to food stores, restaurants, and parks, gyms and other facilities for physical activity, school policies, and media) on food consumption and physical activity behaviors and as determinants of BMI and the prevalence of obesity.
Recent and Noteworthy Publications
Beydoun MA, Powell LM, Wang Y. Reduced away-from-home food expenditure and better nutrition knowledge and belief can improve quality of dietary intake among US adults. Public Health Nutr. 2009 Mar;12(3):369-381.
Beydoun MA, Powell LM, Wang YF. The association of fast food, fruit and vegetable prices with dietary intakes among US adults: Is there modification by family income? Soc Sci Med. 2008 June;66(11):2218-2229.
Chaloupka FJ, Powell LM. Price, availability, and youth obesity: evidence from Bridging the Gap. Prev Chronic Dis. 2009 Jul;6(3). [See abstract.]
Emery SL, Szczypka G, Powell LM, Chaloupka FJ. Public health obesity-related TV advertising: lessons learned from tobacco. Am J Prev Med. 2007 Oct;33(4 Suppl):S257-63.
Mirtcheva DM, Powell LM. Participation in the national school lunch program: importance of school-level and neighborhood contextual factors. J Sch Health. 2009 Oct;79(10):485-94. [See abstract.]
Powell LM, Auld MC, Chaloupka FJ, Johnston LD, O’Malley P. Access to fast food and food prices: the relationship with fruit and vegetable consumption and overweight status among adolescents. Adv Health Econ Health Serv Res. 2007;17:23-48.
Powell LM, Auld MC, Chaloupka FJ, O'Malley PM, Johnston LD. Associations between access to food stores and adolescent body mass index. Am J Prev Med. 2007 Oct;33(4 Suppl):S301-7.
Powell LM, Chaloupka FJ. Food prices and obesity: evidence and policy implications for taxes and subsidies. Milbank Q. 2009 Mar; 87(1): 229-57. [See abstract.]
Powell LM, Chaloupka FJ, Slater SJ, Johnston LD, O'Malley PM. The availability of local-area commercial physical activity-related facilities and physical activity among adolescents. Am J Prev Med. 2007 Oct;33(4 Suppl):S292-300.
Powell LM, Chriqui J, Chaloupka FJ. Associations between state-level soda taxes and adolescent body mass index. J Adolesc Health. 2009 Sep;45(3 Suppl):S57-63. [See abstract.]
Powell LM, Slater S, Chaloupka FJ, Harper D. Availability of physical activity-related facilities and neighborhood demographic and socioeconomic characteristics: a national study. Am J Public Health. 2006 Sep;96(9):1676-80.
Powell LM, Slater S, Mirtcheva D, Bao Y, Chaloupka FJ. Food store availability and neighborhood characteristics in the United States. Prev Med. 2007;44(3):189-195.
Powell LM, Szczypka G, Chaloupka FJ. Adolescent exposure to food advertising on television. Am J Prev Med. 2007 Oct;33(4 Suppl):S251-6.
Powell LM, Szczypka G, Chaloupka FJ. Exposure to food advertising on television among children. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2007;161:553-560.
Powell LM, Szczypka G, Chaloupka FJ, Braunschweig CL. Nutritional content of television food advertisements seen by children and adolescents in the United States. Pediatrics. 2007 Sep;120(3):576-583.
Powell LM, Yanjun B, Chaloupka FJ. The availability of fast-food and full-service restaurants in the United States: associations with neighborhood characteristics. Am J Prev Med. 33(4):S240-S245.
Powell LM, Zhao Z, Wang Y. Food prices and fruit and vegetable consumption among young American adults. Health Place. 2009 Dec;15(4):1064-70. [See abstract.]
Slater SJ, Powell LM, Chaloupka FJ. Missed opportunities: local health departments as providers of obesity prevention programs for adolescents. Am J Prev Med. 2007 Oct;33(4 Suppl):S246-50.
Zenk SN, Powell LM. US secondary schools and food outlets. Health Place. 2008 Jun;14(2):336-46.
Contact Info
Institute for Health Research and Policy
University of Illinois at Chicago (MC 275)
448 Westside Research Office Bldg.
1747 West Roosevelt Road
Chicago, IL 60608
Other Title(s)
Research Professor of Economics
Assistant Director, Health Policy Center
IHRP Affiliation(s)
Current IHRP Research Studies (PI)
Recently Completed Research
Bridging the Gap: Research Informing Practice for Healthy Youth Behavior (No. 2)
Diet, Weight and USDA School Meal Participation
Community-based Approach to Understanding Multiple Risk factors for Obesity among Low-Income Children;
Economic, Lifestyle, and Social Influences on Obesity
ImpacTeen: A Policy Research Partnership to Reduce Youth Substance Use
National Study of School District Policies and Elementary School Practices Addressing Childhood Obesity
Public Policy and Smokeless Tobacco Demand
Role of Peer Effects in Problem Drinking and Tobacco Use across American College Campuses
Peer Effects, Tobacco Control Policies and Youth Smoking Behavior