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

Han E, Powell LM, Zenk SN, Rimkus L, Ohri-Vachaspati P, Chaloupka FJ. Classification bias in commercial business lists for retail food stores in the U.S. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2012 Apr 18;9(1):46. [Epub ahead of print] [See abstract.]

Taber DR, Chriqui JF, Powell LM, Chaloupka FJ. Banning all sugar-sweetened beverages in middle schools: reduction of in-school access and purchasing but not overall consumption. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2012 Mar;166(3):256-62. [See abstract.]

Khan T, Powell LM, Wada R. Fast food consumption and food prices: evidence from panel data on 5th and 8th grade children. J Obes. 2012;2012:857697. [See abstract.]

Han E, Powell L, Slater S, Quinn C. Validation of secondary commercial data sources for physical activity facilities in urban and non-urban settings. J Phys Act Health. 2011 Dec 27. [Epub ahead of print] [See abstract.]

Faulkner GE, Grootendorst P, Nguyen VH, Andreyeva T, Arbour-Nicitopoulos K, Auld MC, Cash SB, Cawley J, Donnelly P, Drewnowski A, Dube L, Ferrence R, Janssen I, Lafrance J, Lakdawalla D, Mendelsen R, Powell LM, et al. Economic instruments for obesity prevention: results of a scoping review and modified delphi survey. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2011 Oct 6;8(1):109. [See abstract.]

Powell LM, Han E, Zenk SN, Khan T, Quinn CM, Gibbs KP, Pugach O, Barker DC, Resnick EA, Myllyluoma J, Chaloupka FJ. Field validation of secondary commercial data sources on the retail food outlet environment in the U.S. Health Place. 2011 Sep;17(5):1122-31. [See abstract.]

Han E, Powell LM, Pugach O. The heterogenous relationship of food stamp participation with body, mass: Quantile regression model. Food Policy. 2011 Aug;36(4):499-506. [See abstract.]

Powell LM, Schermbeck RM, Szczypka G, Chaloupka FJ, Braunschweig CL. Trends in the nutritional content of television food advertisements seen by children in the United States. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2011 Dec;165(12):1078-86. [See abstract.]

Han E, Norton EC, Powell LM. Direct and indirect effects of body weight on adult wages. Econ Hum Biol. 2011 Dec;9(4):381-92. [See abstract.]

Isgor Z, Powell LM. Availability of commercial physical activity facilities and physical activity outside of school among high school students. J Phys Act Health. 2011 Jul;8(5):707-15. [See abstract.]

Svastisalee CM, Nordahl H, Glümer C, Holstein BE, Powell LM, Due P. Supermarket and fast-food outlet exposure in Copenhagen: associations with socio-economic and demographic characteristics. Public Health Nutr. 2011 Sep;14(9):1618-26 [See abstract.]

Beydoun MA, Powell LM, Chen X, Wang Y. Food prices are associated with dietary quality, fast food consumption, and body mass index among U.S. children and adolescents. J Nutr. 2011 Feb;141(2):304-11. [See abstract.]

Powell LM, Han E. The costs of food at home and away from home and consumption patterns among U.S. adolescents. J Adolesc Health. 2011 Jan;48(1):20-6. [See abstract.]

Powell LM, Han E, Chaloupka FJ. Economic contextual factors, food consumption, and obesity among U.S. adolescents. J Nutr. 2010 Jun;140(6):1175-80. [See abstract.]

Sturm R, Powel LM, Chriqui JF, Chaloupka FJ. Soda taxes, soft drink consumption, and children’s body mass index. Health Aff. 2010 May;29(5):1052-8. [See abstract.]

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.]

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. Fast food costs and adolescent body mass index: evidence from panel data. J Health Econ. 2009 Sep;28(5):963-70.

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.]

Chaloupka FJ, Powell LM. Price, availability, and youth obesity: evidence from Bridging the Gap. Prev Chronic Dis. 2009 Jul;6(3). [See abstract.]

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.

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.]

Auld MC, Powell LM. Economics of food energy density and adolescent body weight. Economica. 2009;76(304):719-740.

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.

Zenk SN, Powell LM. US secondary schools and food outlets. Health Place. 2008 Jun;14(2):336-46.

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.

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, 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, Szczypka G, Chaloupka FJ. Adolescent exposure to food advertising on television. Am J Prev Med. 2007 Oct;33(4 Suppl):S251-6.

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.

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, 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, Chaloupka FJ, Bao Y. The availability of fast-food and full-service restaurants in the United States: associations with neighborhood characteristics. Am J Prev Med. 2007;33(4 Suppl):S240-S245.

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. Exposure to food advertising on television among children. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2007;161:553-560.

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.

Lee SH, Rowan MT, Powell LM, Newman S, Klassen AC, Frick KD, Anderson J, Gittelsohn J. Characteristics of prepared food sources in low-income neighborhoods of Baltimore City. Ecology of Food and Nutrition. 49 (6): 409-430 2010. [See abstract.]

Contact Info

Phone: (312) 413-8468
Fax: (312) 996-2703

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
Member, UIC Cancer Center Cancer Control and Population Science Research Program

IHRP Affiliation(s)