Hannah R. Thompson

Hannah R Thompson

Director, Nutrition Policy Institute

Brown University, BA
UC Berkeley, MPH in Public Health Nutrition
UC San Francisco, PhD in Epidemiology and Translational Science
Epidemiology; school health research; physical activity; nutrition; community health; youth health; National School Lunch Program; physical education; recess; ultra-processed foods

Hannah's research focuses on improving cardiometabolic health at the intersection of science, community, and policy. She seeks to design and evaluate scalable, cost-effective, and policy-relevant interventions to increase healthy food and beverage consumption, increase physical activity and fitness, and reduce health inequities. She focuses on youth-facing policies like mandated physical education, recess, and nutritious meals in public schools, as well as federal programmatic approaches like WIC, CACFP, and SNAP-Ed, that have tremendous potential for both short- and long-term health impact. Her research to date includes a spectrum of observational, intervention, qualitative and quantitative studies involving hundreds of thousands of youth and their families in collaboration with health care, education, public health, and non-profit organizations.

Peer reviewed

  • Grau, R. C.; Ritchie, L. D.; Patel, A.; Thompson, H. R. (2026). "Association of Milk Fat Intake on BMI Change and Nutrient Intake in WIC-Enrolled Toddlers." J Nutr Educ Behav 58(3): 159-166.
  • Msami, N. A.; Claassen, J.; Pulvera, R.; Gottfried, M. A.; Thompson, H. R. (2026). "Associations Between School-Based Recess Interventions and Student Chronic Absenteeism in Low-Income California Schools." J Sch Health 96(4): e70138.
  • Balshi, A.; Dempsey, J. P.; Thompson, H. R.; Montgomery, M. W. (2026). "Heightened prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome in U.S. sexual minorities." J Psychiatr Res 193: 468-471.
  • Day, S.; Nguyen, C.; Argenio, K.; Konty, K.; Dougan, S. S.; D'Agostino, E.; Neshteruk, C. D.; Wagner, B. E.; Thompson, H. R. (2026). "Trends in 4th-12th grade students' aerobic capacity and muscular strength and endurance: New York City public school students, 2006-2019." Front Public Health 14: 1682913.
  • Thompson, H. R.; Nguyen, C.; McKenzie, T. L.; Dzewaltowski, D. A.; Madsen, K. A. (2025). "A pilot cluster-randomized controlled trial of an audit, feedback, and coaching intervention on compliance with elementary physical education laws and student physical activity during lesson time." Prev Med Rep 53: 103037.
  • Thompson, H. R.; Lochner-Bravo, U.; Talebloo, J.; Davis, J. N.; Falbe, J. (2025). "Accountability and Funding for State-Level School Physical Education and Recess Laws." Am J Prev Med 69(5): 108017.
  • Thompson, H. R.; Ricks-Oddie, J. L.; Schneider, M.; Day, S.; Argenio, K.; Konty, K.; Radom-Aizik, S.; Guo, Y.; Cooper, D. M. (2025). "Data Missingness and Equity Implications in the Nation's Largest Student Fitness Surveillance System: The New York City School Based Physical Fitness Testing Programs, 2006-2020." J Sch Health 95(7): 498-509.
  • Kahan, David; Thompson, Hannah R.; Zielke, Cecelia Ellen; Punzalan, Bianca English (2025). "Estimated Energy Expenditure during Classroom-Based Physical Activity." Translational Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine 10(4).
  • Fiedler KC, Vasicsek R, Ezekiel M, Felix C, Lee DL, Thompson H, Gosliner W, Willits S, Madsen K, Ritchie LD. A Qualitative Exploration of Parent and School Staff Perceptions of Freshly Prepared Meals and Food Waste Implications in California Elementary Schools. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2025 Nov;57(11):1048-1059. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2025.07.006. Epub 2025 Aug 28. PMID: 40874894.
    Format:

  • Balshi A, Dempsey JP, Thompson HR, Montgomery MW. Inequities in food security by sexual orientation in the United States. Prev Med. 2025 Oct;199:108391. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2025.108391. Epub 2025 Aug 20. PMID: 40845968.

  • Conklin, K. A. K.; Nakayama, J. Y.; Van Dyke, M. E.; Harley, K. G.; Thompson, H. R. (2025). "Leisure-Time Physical Activity Among Women of Reproductive Age - United States, 2022 and 2024." MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 74(41): 634-639.
  • Au, L. E.; Thompson, H. R.; Ritchie, L. D.; Sun, B.; Zimmerman, T. P.; Whaley, S. E.; Reat, A.; Sankavaram, K.; Borger, C. (2025). "Longer WIC Participation Is Associated With Higher Diet Quality and Consumption of WIC-Eligible Foods Among Children 2-5 Years Old." J Acad Nutr Diet 125(10): 1443-1457 e1.
  • Zielke, C.; Badon, S. E.; Bhalala, M.; Thompson, H. R. (2025). "Physical Activity During the Perinatal Period: A Fact Sheet for Clinicians." Am J Lifestyle Med 15598276251364774.
  • Balshi, A.; Dempsey, J. P.; Thompson, H. R.; Montgomery, M. W. (2025). "Sexual Orientation and Cost-Related Health Care Deferral." JAMA Netw Open 8(12): e2549101.
  • D'Agostino, E. M.; Florez, K. R.; Nguyen, C.; Day, S.; Konty, K.; Argenio, K.; Huang, T. T.; Neshteruk, C. D.; Wagner, B. E.; Rosenberg, L. M.; Thompson, H. R. (2025). "The association between place of birth and physical fitness among Latino youth: Findings from New York City public school students, 2006-2019." Public Health 240: 209-216.
  • Pulvera, Richard; Hewawitharana, Sridharshi C.; Thompson, Hannah R.; Leung, Cindy W.; Gosliner, Wendi (2024). "Availability and Quality of Healthy Foods Vary by Store Participation in SNAP and WIC in Low-Income California Neighborhoods." Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition 19(6): 1165-1180.
  • Thompson, H. R.; Madsen, K. A.; Nguyen, C.; McKenzie, T. L.; Picciotto, S. (2024). "Impact of New York City's 4-year multi-component natural experiment to improve elementary school physical education on student cardiorespiratory fitness." BMC Public Health 24(1): 3161.
  • Woodward-Lopez, G.; Esaryk, E.; Rauzon, S.; Hewawitharana, S. C.; Thompson, H. R.; Cordon, I.; Whetstone, L. (2023). "Associations between Changes in Food Acquisition Behaviors, Dietary Intake, and Bodyweight during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Low-Income Parents in California." Nutrients 15(21).
  • Gosliner, W.; Felix, C.; Strochlic, R.; Wright, S.; Yates-Berg, A.; Thompson, H. R.; Tang, H.; Melendrez, B. (2023). "Feasibility and Response to the San Diego County, California, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Agency Sending Food and Nutrition Text Messages to All Participants: Quasi-Experimental Web-Based Survey Pilot Study." J Med Internet Res 25: e41021.
  • Thompson, H. R.; Madsen, K. A.; Zamek, M.; McKenzie, T. L.; Dzewaltowski, D. A. (2023). "Implementation of elementary school physical education quantity and quality law through school district audit, feedback, and coaching." Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 20(1): 77.
  • Hewawitharana, S. C.; Woodward-Lopez, G.; Ohri-Vachaspati, P.; Acciai, F.; Thompson, H. R.; Pugliese, J.; Gosliner, W. (2023). "Latent class analysis identifies a promising combination of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education interventions for improving student cardiorespiratory fitness." Prev Med 175: 107687.
  • Thompson, H. R.; London, R. A. (2023). "Not all fun and games: Disparities in school recess persist, and must be addressed." Prev Med Rep 35: 102301.
  • Day, S. E.; Konty, K. J.; Napier, M. D.; Irvin, E.; Thompson, H. R.; D'Agostino, E. M. (2023). "NYC FITNESSGRAM: Population-Level Physical Fitness Surveillance for New York City Youth." Am J Epidemiol 192(3): 334-341.
  • Rauzon, S.; Hewawitharana, S. C.; Esaryk, E. E.; Thompson, H. R.; Whetstone, L.; Cordon, I.; Woodward-Lopez, G. M. (2023). "Parent perceptions of changes in eating behavior during COVID-19 of school-aged children from Supplemental Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) eligible households in California." Prev Med Rep 35: 102365.
  • Thompson, H. R.; Madsen, K. A.; Nguyen, C.; Argenio, K.; D'Agostino, E.; Konty, K.; Day, S. (2023). "School-level self-reported versus objective measurements of body mass index in public high school students." Prev Med 174: 107616.
  • Gee, K. A.; Thompson, H. R.; Sliwa, S. A.; Madsen, K. A. (2022). "BMI Reporting and Accuracy of Child's Weight Perception." Pediatrics 150(6).
  • Konty, K. J.; Day, S. E.; Napier, M. D.; Irvin, E.; Thompson, H. R.; M. D' Agostino E (2022). "Context, importance, and process for creating a body mass index surveillance system to monitor childhood obesity within the New York City public school setting." Prev Med Rep 26: 101704.
  • Heiges, J.; Lee, D. L.; Vollmer, L.; Wobbekind, K.; Thompson, H. R.; Gosliner, W.; Madsen, K. A.; O'Neill, K.; Ritchie, L. D. (2022). "Evaluating Food Packaging Waste in Schools: A Systematic Literature Review." Int J Environ Res Public Health 19(9).
  • Thompson, H. R.; Machado, S. S.; Madsen, K. A.; Cauchon-Robles, R.; Neelon, M.; Ritchie, L. (2022). "Impact of a Teacher Intervention to Encourage Students to Eat School Lunch." Int J Environ Res Public Health 19(18).
  • Thompson, H. R.; Mendelson, J.; Zamek, M.; Cortez, G.; Schillinger, D. (2022). "Impact of an Arts-based Public Health Literacy Program Delivered Online to High School Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic." J Health Commun 27(7): 520-534.
  • Thompson, H. R.; Martin, A.; Strochlic, R.; Singh, S.; Woodward-Lopez, G. (2022). "Limited implementation of California's Healthy Default Beverage law for children's meals sold online." Public Health Nutr 25(7): 1-10.
  • Pulvera, R.; Altman, E.; Avina, L.; Thompson, H.; Schillinger, D.; Madsen, K. (2022). "Pandemic-related financial hardship and disparities in sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and purchasing among San Francisco Bay Area residents during COVID-19." Prev Med Rep 26: 101759.
  • Kuhn, A. P.; Thompson, H. R.; Webster, C. A.; Burgeson, C.; Chriqui, J.; Okutoyi, T.; Hager, E. R. (2022). "Physical Education Teachers' Perceived Effectiveness in Association with Student Attendance, Teacher Adaptability, External Educational Supports, and Teaching Format During the COVID-19 Pandemic." J Healthy Eat Act Living 2(3): 97-112.
  • Thompson, H. R.; Borger, C.; Paolicelli, C.; Whaley, S. E.; Reat, A.; Ritchie, L. (2022). "The Relationship between Breastfeeding and Initial Vegetable Introduction with Vegetable Consumption in a National Cohort of Children Ages 1-5 Years from Low-Income Households." Nutrients 14(9).
  • Altman, E.; Linchey, J.; Santamaria, G.; Thompson, H. R.; Madsen, K. A. (2022). "Weight Measurements in School: Setting and Student Comfort." J Nutr Educ Behav 54(3): 249-254.
  • Madsen, K. A.; Thompson, H. R.; Linchey, J.; Ritchie, L. D.; Gupta, S.; Neumark-Sztainer, D.; Crawford, P. B.; McCulloch, C. E.; Ibarra-Castro, A. (2021). "Effect of School-Based Body Mass Index Reporting in California Public Schools: A Randomized Clinical Trial." JAMA Pediatr 175(3): 251-259.
  • Machado, S. S.; Schillinger, D.; Avina, L.; Cortez, G.; Daniels, R.; Thompson, H. R. (2021). "Seeing "The Bigger Picture:" Impact of an Arts-Focused Type 2 Diabetes Education Program in High Schools." J Health Commun 26(10): 696-707.
  • Lee, D. L.; Alkon, A.; Plank, K.; Neelon, M.; Diaz Rios, L. K.; Hecht, C. E.; Thompson, H. R.; Ritchie, L. D. (2021). "Self-Paced Online Training on Healthy Beverage Policy for Child Care Providers." J Nutr Educ Behav 53(6): 457-470.
  • Thompson, H. R.; Pavlovic, A.; D'Agostino, E.; Napier, M. D.; Konty, K.; Day, S. E. (2021). "The association between student body mass index and tests of flexibility assessed by the FITNESSGRAM(R): New York City public school students, 2017-18." PLoS One 16(12): e0262083.
  • Thompson, H. R.; Ritchie, L.; Park, E.; Madsen, K. A.; Gosliner, W. (2020). "Effect of Removing Chocolate Milk on Milk and Nutrient Intake Among Urban Secondary School Students." Prev Chronic Dis 17: E95.
  • Konty, K. J.; Day, S. E.; Larkin, M.; Thompson, H. R.; D'Agostino, E. M. (2020). "Physical fitness disparities among New York City public school youth using standardized methods, 2006-2017." PLoS One 15(4): e0227185.
  • Thompson, H. R.; Hewawitharana, S. C.; Kao, J.; Rider, C.; Talmage, E.; Gosliner, W.; Whetstone, L.; Woodward-Lopez, G. (2020). "SNAP-Ed physical activity interventions in low-income schools are associated with greater cardiovascular fitness among 5th and 7th grade students in California." Prev Med Rep 20: 101222.
  • Rauzon, S.; Randel-Schreiber, H.; Kuo, E.; Schwartz, P.; Reed, A. L.; Thompson, H. R. (2020). "The association between sugar-sweetened beverage availability in school vending machines and school staff sugar-sweetened beverage consumption." Prev Med Rep 19: 101128.
  • Machado, S. S.; Ritchie, L. D.; Thompson, H. R.; Madsen, K. A. (2020). "The Impact of a Multi-Pronged Intervention on Students' Perceptions of School Lunch Quality and Convenience and Self-Reported Fruit and Vegetable Consumption." Int J Environ Res Public Health 17(16).
  • Thompson, H. R.; Gosliner, W.; Ritchie, L.; Wobbekind, K.; Reed, A. L.; O'Keefe, O.; Madsen, K. A. (2020). "The Impact of a Multipronged Intervention to Increase School Lunch Participation among Secondary School Students in an Urban Public School District." Child Obes 16(S1): S14-S22.
  • Thompson, H. R.; Singh, B. K.; Ibarra-Castro, A.; Woodward-Lopez, G.; Madsen, K. A. (2019). "Access to credentialed elementary physical education teachers in California and students' cardiorespiratory fitness." Prev Med 121: 62-67.
  • Thompson, H. R.; Linchey, J. K.; King, B.; Himes, J. H.; Madsen, K. A. (2019). "Accuracy of School Staff-Measured Height and Weight Used for Body Mass Index Screening and Reporting." J Sch Health 89(8): 629-635.
  • Thompson, H. R.; Johnson, R. C.; Madsen, K. A.; Fuller, B. (2019). "Impact of Physical Education Litigation on Fifth Graders' Cardio-Respiratory Fitness, California, 2007-2018." Am J Public Health 109(11): 1557-1563.
  • Machado, S.; Ritchie, L.; Thompson, H.; Reed, A.; Castro, A. I.; Neelon, M.; Madsen, K. (2019). "Multi-pronged intervention to increase secondary student participation in school lunch: Design and rationale." Contemp Clin Trials 78: 133-139.
  • Linchey, J. K.; King, B.; Thompson, H. R.; Madsen, K. A. (2019). "Parent Underestimation of Child Weight Status and Attitudes towards BMI Screening." Health Behav Policy Rev 6(3): 209-218.
  • Thompson, H. R.; Linchey, J. K.; Liu, N. F.; Madsen, K. A. (2019). "Parents Recall of, and Reactions to, School-Based BMI Reports." Child Obes 15(8): 548-554.
  • Falbe, J.; Thompson, H. R.; Patel, A.; Madsen, K. A. (2019). "Potentially addictive properties of sugar-sweetened beverages among adolescents." Appetite 133: 130-137.
  • Lounsbery, M.A.F.; McKenzie, T.L.; Thompson, H.R. (2019). "Prioritizing Physical Activity in Schools: Educational Leadersâ?? Perspectives." Translational Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine 4(22): 248-256.
  • Thompson, H. R.; Singh, B. K.; Reed, A.; Garcia, R.; Lounsbery, M.; Winig, B. D.; Madsen, K. A. (2018). "Impact of Litigation on Compliance With California Physical Education Laws in Elementary Schools." J Phys Act Health 15(10): 721-729.
  • Falbe, J.; Friedman, L. E.; Sokal-Gutierrez, K.; Thompson, H. R.; Tantoco, N. K.; Madsen, K. A. (2017). ""She Gave Me the Confidence to Open Up": Bridging Communication by Promotoras in a Childhood Obesity Intervention for Latino Families." Health Educ Behav 44(5): 728-737.
  • Madsen, K. A.; Linchey, J.; Ritchie, L.; Thompson, H. R. (2017). "The Fit Study: Design and rationale for a cluster randomized trial of school-based BMI screening and reporting." Contemp Clin Trials 58: 40-46.
  • Thompson, H. R.; Madsen, K. A. (2017). "The Report Card on BMI Report Cards." Curr Obes Rep 6(2): 163-167.
  • Falbe, J.; Thompson, H. R.; Becker, C. M.; Rojas, N.; McCulloch, C. E.; Madsen, K. A. (2016). "Impact of the Berkeley Excise Tax on Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption." Am J Public Health 106(10): 1865-71.
  • Thompson, H.R.; Duvall, J; Padrez, R; Rosekrans, N; Madsen, K.A. (2016). "The impact of moderate-vigorous intensity physical education class immediately prior to standardized testing on student test-taking behaviors." Mental Health and Physical Activity 11: 7-12.
  • Falbe, J.; Cadiz, A. A.; Tantoco, N. K.; Thompson, H. R.; Madsen, K. A. (2015). "Active and Healthy Families: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Culturally Tailored Obesity Intervention for Latino Children." Acad Pediatr 15(4): 386-95.
  • Thompson, H. R.; Linchey, J. K.; Madsen, K. A. (2015). "Critical Elements of a School Report to Parents on Body Mass Index." Prev Chronic Dis 12: E136.
  • Thompson, H. R.; Haguewood, R.; Tantoco, N.; Madsen, K. A. (2015). "Lessons Learned: A Strategic Alliance to Improve Elementary Physical Education in an Urban School District." Prog Community Health Partnersh 9(3): 363-70.
  • Madsen, K. A.; Cotterman, C.; Thompson, H. R.; Rissman, Y.; Rosen, N. J.; Ritchie, L. D. (2015). "Passive commuting and dietary intake in fourth and fifth grade students." Am J Prev Med 48(3): 292-9.
  • Thompson, H. R.; Vittinghoff, E.; Linchey, J. K.; Madsen, K. A. (2015). "Public Disclosure to Improve Physical Education in an Urban School District: Results From a 2-Year Quasi-Experimental Study." J Sch Health 85(9): 604-10.
  • Yen, I. H.; Fandel Flood, J.; Thompson, H.; Anderson, L. A.; Wong, G. (2014). "How design of places promotes or inhibits mobility of older adults: realist synthesis of 20 years of research." J Aging Health 26(8): 1340-72.
  • Thompson, H. R.; Linchey, J.; Madsen, K. A. (2013). "Are physical education policies working? A snapshot from San Francisco, 2011." Prev Chronic Dis 10: E142.
  • Madsen, K.; Thompson, H.; Adkins, A.; Crawford, Y. (2013). "School-community partnerships: a cluster-randomized trial of an after-school soccer program." JAMA Pediatr 167(4): 321-6.
  • Herrick, H.; Thompson, H.; Kinder, J.; Madsen, K. A. (2012). "Use of SPARK to promote after-school physical activity." J Sch Health 82(10): 457-61.
  • Kinder, J. R.; Lee, K. A.; Thompson, H.; Hicks, K.; Topp, K.; Madsen, K. A. (2012). "Validation of a hip-worn accelerometer in measuring sleep time in children." J Pediatr Nurs 27(2): 127-33.
  • Madsen, K. A.; Hicks, K.; Thompson, H. (2011). "Physical activity and positive youth development: impact of a school-based program." J Sch Health 81(8): 462-70.
  • Madsen, K. A.; Thompson, H. R.; Wlasiuk, L.; Queliza, E.; Schmidt, C.; Newman, T. B. (2009). "After-school program to reduce obesity in minority children: a pilot study." J Child Health Care 13(4): 333-46.