Dr. Heather Kitzman-Ulrich
Research Assistant Professor

Dr. Kitzman-Ulrich received her PhD in Psychology (2006) from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX and a MA in Behavioral Science (2000) with a specialty in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Houston. Dr. Kitzman-Ulrich became a Research Assistant Professor in 2007 through the Centenary Plan Program sponsored by the Office of Research and Health Sciences. Dr. Kitzman-Ulrich is currently the Research Director for a large NIH funded obesity prevention study to increase physical activity levels in 6th graders (Dr. Dawn Wilson, PI). Prior to joining the Psychology Department at USC, she was involved in research on physical activity, nutrition, and obesity at The Cooper Institute in Dallas, TX.

Research Interests
Dr. Kitzman-Ulrich is primarily interested in the impact of family and parenting variables on adolescent health outcomes including physical activity, diet, and obesity. She is currently conducting focus groups with families to understand motivators to participating in weight loss programs and is conducting a family-based weight loss pilot study in collaboration with Dr. Dawn Wilson.

Publications
Kitzman-Ulrich, H., Hampson, R., Wilson, D. K., Presnell, K., Brown, A., & O'Boyle, M. An Adolescent Weight Loss Program Integrating Family Variables Reduces Energy Intake. Journal of The American Dietetic Association (in press).

Wilson, D. K., & Kitzman, H. E. Cultural Considerations in the Development of Pediatric Weight Management Interventions. In E. Jelalian & R. Steele (Eds.). Handbook of Child and Adolescent Obesity. Springer Publishers (in press).

Wilson, D. K., Kitzman-Ulrich, H., Williams, J. E., Saunders, R., Griffin, S., Pate, R., Van Horn, L., Evans, A., Sisson, S. B., Hutto, B., & Addy, C. (2008). An overview of the Active by Choice Today (ACT) for increasing physical activity. Contemporary Clinical Trials, 29(1), 21-31.

Hamilton, N. A., Kitzman, H., & Guyotte, S. (2006). Enhancing health and emotion: Mindfulness as a missing link between cognitive therapy and positive psychology. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy: An International Quarterly, 20 (2), 123 – 134.

The Cooper Institute. (2005). Healthy Eating and Active Living In TRICARE Households: Weight Loss Workbook ( H.E. Kitzman, H.O. Chambliss, & C. Finley, Eds.). Department of Defense.

Hamilton, N. A., Karoly, P., & Kitzman, H. (2004). Self-regulation and chronic pain: The role of emotion. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 28 (5), 559-576.

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