Gail M. Woodward-Lopez

Peer-reviewed Articles

Linares, A., Harpainter, P., Plank, K., Woodward-Lopez, G. Lessons Learned Recruiting Comparison Elementary Schools for Impact Evaluation of SNAP-Ed Interventions. Journal of Extension. In Press.

Thompson H, Martin A, Strochlic R, Singh S and Woodward-Lopez G (2022). Limited implementation of California’s Healthy Default Beverage law for children’s meals sold online. Public Health Nutrition. 10Jan2022 (on-line): 1-23. DOI: 10.1017/S1368980022000039

Rider CD, Kao J, Hewawitharana SC, Beker CM, Linares A, Woodward-Lopez G. (2021) Validity and Reliability of a Site-Level Assessment Questionnaire to Assess Nutrition and Physical Activity Practices in Schools. Childhood Obesity, 20 December 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1089/chi.2021.0148

Strochlic R, Woodward-Lopez G, Plank K, Hewawitharana S, Richardson J, and Whetstone L. (2021) Will high school students “rethink their drink”? Findings from an impact evaluation of a healthy beverage curriculum. Health Education Journal, 1-14. DOI: 10.1177/00178969211045725

Strochlic R, Woodward-Lopez G, Hewawitharana S, Streng K, Richardson J, Whetstone L, Gorshow D. (2021) A Harvest of the Month Curriculum Increases Fruit and Vegetable Intake Among 4th-6th Grade Students.  J School Health.  https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.13066

Ritchie LD, Lessard L, Harpainter P, Tsai MM, Woodward-Lopez G, Tracy T, Gosliner W, McCallops K, Thompson I and Karpyn A (2021) Restaurant kids’ meal beverage offerings before and after implementation of healthy default beverage policy statewide in California compared with citywide in Wilmington, Delaware. Public Health Nutrition.  https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980021001245

Tsai M, Frongillo EA, Ritchie LD, Woodward-Lopez G, and Au LE. (2021) Factor analysis reduces complex measures of nutrition environments in U.S. elementary and middle schools into cohesive dimensions in the Healthy Communities Study. J Nutrition. nxaa450, https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxaa450

Rider CD, Linares A, Kao J, Becker C, Woodward-Lopez G (2020) Assessing Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Practices in Places Children Learn. Journal of  Extension. 58(6)-tt5.

Thompson HR, Hewawitharana SC, Kao J, Rider C, Talmage E, Gosliner W, Whetstone L, and Woodward-Lopez G. 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 Reports. 2020:101222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2020.101222

Hewawitharana S, Kao J, Rider C, Talmage E, Costello S Webb K, Gosliner W, Woodward-Lopez, G.  Method for scoring dose of multicomponent interventions: a building block for future evaluations. Am. J. Eval.  (in press)

Tsai, M., Harpainter, P., Martin, A., Woodward-Lopez, G., Lee, D., & Ritchie, L. Healthy Default Beverages in Kids’ Meals: Evaluating Policy Adherence and Impact in California, Current Developments in Nutrition, Volume 4, Issue Supplement_2, June 2020, Page 730, https://doi.org/10.1093/cdn/nzaa051_027

Harpainter, P.; Hewawitharana, S.C.; Lee, D.L.; Martin, A.C.; Gosliner, W.; Ritchie, L.D.; Woodward-Lopez, G. Voluntary Kids’ Meal Beverage Standards: Are They Sufficient to Ensure Healthier Restaurant Practices and Consumer Choices? Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 2020, 17(15); 5275-  https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17155275

Kris-Etherton PM, Petersen KS, Hibbeln JR, Hurley D, Kolick V, Peoples S, Rodriguez N, and Woodward-Lopez G. (2020) Nutrition and behavioral health disorders: depression and anxiety. Nutrition Reviews,  https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuaa025

Au LE, Ritchie LD, Gurzo K, Nhan LA, Woodward-Lopez GM, Kao J, Guenther PM, Tsai M, Gosliner W. Post Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act adherence to select school nutrition standards by region and poverty level: The Healthy Communities Study. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2019.10.016

Thompson HR, Singha BK, Ibarra-Castro A, Woodward-Lopez G, Madsen KA. (2019) Access to credentialed elementary physical education teachers in California and students' cardiorespiratory fitness. Preventive Medicine, 2019;121:62-67.

Woodward-Lopez G, Gosliner W, Au LE, et al. (2018) Community characteristics modify the relationship between obesity prevention efforts and dietary intake in children: the Healthy Communities Study. Pediatr Obesity, 2108;13 Suppl 1:46-55

Pate RR, Frongillo EA ,McIver KL, Colabianchi N , Wilson DK , Collie-Akers VL , Schultz JA , Reis J , Madsen K, Woodward-Lopez G, Berrigan D, Landgraf A, Nagaraja J, Strauss W. (2018) Associations between Community Programs and Policies and Children’s Physical Activity: The Healthy Communities Study. Pediar Obesity, 2018; 13 (Suppl. 1): 72–81

Ritchie LD, Woodward-Lopez G, Crawford PB, et al.  (2018) Associations of community programs and policies with children’s dietary intakes: the Healthy Communities Study. Pediatr Obes 2018;13 Suppl 1:14-26 https://doi.org/10.1111/ijpo.12440.

Gosliner W, Brown D, Sun B, Woodward-Lopez G, Crawford PB. (2018) Availability, quality, and price of produce in low-income neighborhood stores in California raise equity issues. Public Health Nutrition. 21(9): 1639-1648.

Kao J, Woodward-Lopez G, Kuo E, James P, Becker C Lenhart K, Boyle K, Williamson D, and Rauzon S. (2018) Improvements in physical activity opportunities: results from a community-based family childcare intervention. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 54(5): S178-S185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2018.01.005

 Woodward-Lopez G, Kao J, Kuo E, James P, Lenhart K, Becker C, Boyle K, Williamson D, and Rauzon S. (2018) Changes in nutrition policies and dietary intake in childcare homes participating in HEAL. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 54(5): S170-S177. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2018.01.007

Woodward-Lopez G, Kao J, Kuo E, Rauzon S, Taylor AC, Goette C, Collins C, Gonzalez EP, Ronshausen DR, Boyle K, Williamson D, and Cheadle A. (2018) Changes in consumer purchases in stores participating in an obesity prevention initiative. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 54(5): S160-S169 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2017.12.002

 Au LE, Crawford PB, Woodward-Lopez G, Gurzo K, Kao J, Webb KL, Ritchie LD. (2018) School wellness committees and policy implementation are associated with lower body mass index z-scores and improved obesity-related dietary outcomes in U.S. schoolchildren. Journal of School Health.  88(9):627-635

Ritchie LD, Wakimoto P, Woodward-Lopez G, Thompson FE, Loria CM, Wilson DK, Kao J, Crawford PB, and Webb KL (2015) The Healthy Communities Study Nutrition Assessments: Child Diet and the School Nutrition Environment. Am J Prev Med. 49(4): 647-652.

Woodward-Lopez G, Kao J, Kiesel K, Miller ML, Boyle M, Drago-Ferguson S, Braff-Guajardo E, and Crawford P (2014) :  Is scratch-cooking a cost-effective way to prepare healthy school meals with USDA Foods? J Acad Nutr Diet. 114(3):1349-1358

Crawford P, Woodward-Lopez G, Gosliner W, and Webb K (2013) Lessons from Fresh Start can guide schools seeking to boost student fruit consumption.  California Agriculture. 67(1): 21-29

Wall R, Litchfield R, Carriquiry A, McDonnell ET, Woodward-Lopez GM (2012) Local wellness policy strength and perceived implementation of school nutrition standards across three states.Child Obes. Aug;8(4):331-8.

Peart, T., Kao, J., Crawford, P, Craypo L, Samuels S, Woodward-Lopez, G. (2012) Does competitive food and beverage legislation hurt meal participation and revenues in high schools? Childhood Obesity. 8(4):339-346

Gosliner W, Madsen KA, Woodward-Lopez G, Crawford PB. Would students prefer to eat healthier foods at school? J Sch Health. 2011 Mar;81(3):146-151.

Woodward-Lopez G,  Kao J, and Ritchie L (2010)) To What Extent Have Sweetened Beverages Contributed to the Obesity Epidemic. Public Health Nutrition. Sep 23:1-11.

Woodward-Lopez G, Gosliner W, Samuels S, Craypo L, Kao J, and Crawford PB (2010) Lessons Learned from the Evaluation  of California’s  Statewide School Nutrition Standards. American Journal of Public Health. Nov;100(11):2137-45.

Madsen K, Gosliner W, Woodward-Lopez G, and Crawford PB (2009) Physical Activity Opportunities Associated With Fitness and Weight Status Among Adolescents in Low-Income Communities. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. 2009;163(11):1014-1021.

Samuels SE, Lawrence S, Woodward-Lopez G, Clark SE, Kao J, Craypo L, Barry J, and Crawford PB (2009). To What Extent Have High Schools in California Been Able to Implement State-Mandated Nutrition Standards?  Journal of Adolescent Health  2009; 45(3): S38-S44

Bacardi-Gascon M, Reveles-Rojas C, Jimenez-Cruz A, Woodward-Lopez G, Crawford P. Evaluation of the Activity Questionnaire applied to mothers and caregivers of preschool children. Obesity Journal, 16(1), S162-163, 2008.

Crawford PB, Woodward-Lopez G, Ritchie L, Webb K (2008). How discretionary can we be with sweetened beverages for children? Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 108 (9), 1440-1444.

Ritchie, LD, Woodward-Lopez, G, Gerstein, D, Smith, D, Crawford, PB. Preventing obesity: What should we eat? California Agriculture, 61(3): 112-118, 2007.

 Ikeda J , Pat Crawford P, Woodward-Lopez, G. BMI Screenings in Schools: Helpful or Harmful? Health Education Research. Health Educ Res. 21:761-9, 2006.

Johnson D, Gerstein D, Evans  A and Woodward-Lopez G (2006). Preventing Obesity: A lifecycle perspective.  J Am Diet Asoc. Jan; 106(1):97-102.

Gerstein D, Woodward-Lopez G, Evans A, Kelsey K, and Drewnowski, A (2004). Clarifying Concepts about Macronutrients’ Effects on Satiation and Satiety. Journal of the American Dietetic Assoication.  Julyl104 (7):1151-3.

Ritchie LD,  Ganapathy  S, Woodward-Lopez G, Gerstein D, and Fleming S. (2003) Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes in Youth: Etiology, Promising Interventions and Recommendations.   Pediatric Diabetes. 4:174-209.

Ritchie LD, Ivey SL, Woodward-Lopez G, Crawford PB (2003).  Alarming trends in pediatric overweight in the United States.  Social Prev Med. 48: 168-177.

Nyquist JG, Naylor AJ, Woodward-Lopez G, and Dixon S (1994) Use of Performance-based Assessment to Evaluate the Impact of a Skill-Oriented Continuing Education Program. Academic Medicine 69 (10) supplement: s5 I -s53.

Naylor AN, Creer AE, Woodward-Lopez G, and Dixon S (1994) Lactation Management Education for Physicians. Seminars in Perinatology 18(6): 525-53 1.

Books and Chapters

IOM (institute of Medicine). 2013.  Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical activity and physical education to school. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.  (Woodward-Lopez, G, Committee Member).

Woodward-Lopez, G and Gosliner W (2011).  School Nutrition and Obesity in Latino Children’s Health and Wellness, Perez-Escamilla R and  Melgar-Quiñónez H, eds. . Arte Publico Press: Houston.

Ritchie LD, Woodward-Lopez G, Gerstein G.  Dietary Determinants and Recommendation for the Prevention of Pediatric Obesity (Chapter 7).  In Pediatric and Adolescent Obesity, D Styne, ed.  Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Elsevier. 2009 (in press).

Crawford PB, Woodward-Lopez G, Rauzon S, Ritchie L, Wang MC. (2008). The role of public policy in addressing the pediatric obesity epidemic. In the Handbook of Child and Adolescent Obesity. Jelalian E and Steele RG, editors. Pages 371-386. NY, NY: Springer Publishing Co. 2008.

Woodward-Lopez G, Gerstein D, Ritchie L, and Fleming  S.  (2007)  Carbohydrates and Obesity (Chapter 5).  In Functional Foods Carbohydrates, Biliaderis CG and Izydorczyk MS, editors. Boca Raton: CRC Press.

Woodward-Lopez G, Ritchie L, Gerstein D and Crawford P (2006).  Obesity: Dietary and Developmental Influences. Boca Raton: CRC Press.

Crawford P, Woodward-Lopez G, Rauzon S, Ritchie L, and Wang M. An Environmental Approach to the Prevention of Pediatric Obesity.   In the Handbook of Child and Adolescent Obesity.  Steele RG and Jelalian E, editors. NY, NY:  Springer Publishing Co.

Woodward-Lopez, G, Flores G, Garza A, Mendoza F, Alonzo-Diaz, G, Jarra E, Sunderland A, Nguyen  R. (2006) Obesity in Latino Communities: Prevention, Principles and Action. Latino Coalition for a Healthy California: Sacramento. www.lchc.org

Sample of reports, literature reviews and policy briefs

Research Brief: Evaluation Brief : Preliminary Baseline Findings Healthy Default Beverages in Kids’ Meals. Nutrition Policy Institute. October 2019. 

Research Brief: Increasing Local Park Use Requires Infrastructure and Sustainable Programming. California Department of Public Health, CalFresh Healthy Living. Nutrition Policy Institute. September 2019. 

Blondin K, Crawford P, Orta-Aleman D, Randel-Schreiber H, Strochlic R, Webb K, Woodward-Lopez G. School-based interventions for promoting nutrition and physical activity & preventing obesity: overview of studies and findings. Nutrition Policy Institute. November 2019.

Kao, Janice; Becker, Christina; Woodward-Lopez, Gail (2018). California Department of Public Health SNAP-Ed Evaluation: PSE

FFY 17 Reporting Results for Individual Local Health Departments. Prepared for California Local Health Departments. Berkeley, CA, Nutrition Policy Institute, University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. July 2018.

Kao, Janice; Woodward-Lopez, Gail; Becker, Christina (2018). California Department of Public Health SNAP-Ed Evaluation:FFY17 State-wide PSE Results Aggregated Across All Local Health Departments. Prepared for the California Department of Public Health, Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Branch. Berkeley, CA, Nutrition Policy Institute, University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. July 2018. https://ucanr.edu/sites/CDPH_PEARS/Data_reports_/

Kao, Janice; Woodward-Lopez, Gail (2018). Mandela Health and Wealth Net Interactive Contribution Model. Prepared for MandelaMarketPlace. Berkeley, CA, Nutrition Policy Institute, University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. July 2018.

Plank K, Martin, A and Woodward-Lopez G. Rapid review of the literature regarding the potential impact of select SNAP-Edrelevant nutrition and physical activity interventions in healthcare and substance use disorder treatment settings.  April 2018

Woodward-Lopez, G (2018). Logic Model, Evaluability Assessment and Recommendations for Rethink Your Drink Oral HealthProject. Prepared for the California Department of Public Health, Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Branch. Berkeley, CA, Nutrition Policy Institute, University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Jan 2018.

Woodward-Lopez, Gail; Kao, Janice; Whetstone, Lauren (2017). Policy, Systems, and Environmental Change Statewide Aggregated Local Health Department Data FFY 2016. Prepared for the California Department of Public Health, Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Branch. Berkeley, CA, Nutrition Policy Institute, University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Dec 2017.

Blondin K, Orta-Aleman D, and Woodward-Lopez, G (2016) Review of the Evidence: Health Promotion Strategies for Retail Food Shopping Venues.  Submitted to the Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Branch of the California Department of Public Health. http://npi.ucanr.edu/files/263765.pdf

Blondin K, Orta-Aleman D, and Woodward-Lopez, G. (2016) Review of the Evidence: early childhood education interventions for promoting nutrition and physical activity and preventing obesity. Submitted to the Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Branch of the California Department of Public Health

Woodward-Lopez, G, Whetstone L, Kao J and Gosliner W (Dec, 2015). Policy, Systems, and Environmental Change Evaluation (PSE) Report: Statewide Aggregated Data FFY 2015. Prepared for: Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Branch, California Department of Public Health.

 UC Berkeley Atkins Center for Weight and Health and the Group Health Research Institute, Center for Community Health and Evaluation. (Sept 2015)  Monument HEAL Zone Strategy Level Evaluation: Child Care Final Report. Prepared for Kaiser Permanente Northern California Community Benefit Program. (Woodward-Lopez G, primary author)

 UC Berkeley Atkins Center for Weight and Health and the Group Health Research Institute, Center for Community Health and Evaluation. (Sept 2015)  Monument HEAL Zone Strategy Level Evaluation: Food Retail Final Report. Prepared for Kaiser Permanente Northern California Community Benefit Program. (Woodward-Lopez G, co-author)

Webb K, Becker C, Vollmer L, Campbell E, Wakimoto P, Woodward-Lopez G. (2013) Tool Time: Compendium of Evaluation Tools for Local Evaluation of Policy, System and Environmental Interventions to Prevent Obesity.UC Berkeley Atkin’s Center for Weight and Health: Berkeley.

Woodward-Lopez G, Diaz H, and Cox L (2010) Physcial Education Research for Kids (PERK)—A Study for the Taskforce on Youth and WorkplaceWellness. http://www.wellnesstaskforce.org/media/cms/mediafiles/PERK_Report_web_final.pdf, January 2010

Woodward-Lopez G, Kao J,and Ritchie L (2009) To What Extent Have Sweetened Beverages Contributed to the Obesity Epidemic.  California Center for Public Health Advocacy: Sacramento.

Center for Weight and Health (2008). Cafeteria facilities: Often overlooked yet key to student nutrition and health. University of California,Berkeley. (Woodward-Lopez G, co-author) http://cwh.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/primary_pdfs/Improved_School_Food%20Service_1.28.08_0.pdf

Woodward-Lopez G and Webb K (2008). Evaluation of the California Fresh Start Program: Report of Findings. Prepared for the California Healthy Kids Resource Center and the Nutrition Services Division, California Department of Education. http://cwh.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/primary_pdfs/ Evaluation_of_the_California_Fresh_Start_Program_Report.pdf

Center for Weight and Health. (2007) Dollars and Sense:  The Financial Impact of Selling Healthier School Foods. University of California, Berkeley. http://cwh.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/primary_pdfs/Dollars_and_Sense_FINAL_3.07.pdf (Woodward-Lopez G, primary author)

California Project LEAN and the Center for Weight and Health (2006) Policy In Action: A Guide to Implementing Your Local School Wellness Policy. Sacramento, CA. www.CaliforniaProjectLEAN.org (Woodward-Lopez G, co-author)

 Woodward-Lopez, G, Flores G, Garza A, Mendoza F, Alonzo-Diaz, G, Jarra E, Sunderland A, Nguyen  R. (2006) Obesity in Latino Communities: Prevention, Principles and Action. Latino Coalition for a Healthy California: Sacramento.

Woodward-Lopez G, Vargas A, Kim S, Proctor C, Hiort-Lorenzen C, Diemoz L and Crawford (2005) LEAF-Pilot Implementation of SB 19 in California Middle and High Schools-Cross-Site Evaluation Report.  Prepared for Nutrition Services Division, California Department of Education . Berkeley: Center for Weight and Health.  www.cnr.berkeley.edu/cwh.

Crawford P, Woodward-Lopez G, and Ikeda J (2005).  Weighing the Risks and Benefits of BMI Reporting in the School Setting. Berkeley: Center for Weight and Health.  www.cnr.berkeley.edu/cwh.

Woodward-Lopez G. (2004) Model School Nutrition/Physical Activity Policy Grants: Cross Site Evaluation Report. Prepared for Nutrition Services Division, California Department of Education by the Center for Weight and Health, University of California, Berkeley, 2004.

Ritchie L, Crawford P, Woodward-Lopez G, Ivey S, Masch M, and Ikeda J (2002).  Prevention of Childhood Overweight—What Should Be Done?  University of California, Berkeley: Center for Weight and Health. cnr.berkeley.edu/cnr.

Ritchie L, Ivey S, Masch M, Woodward-Lopez G, Ikeda J and Crawford P (2001).  Pediatric Overweight: A Review of the Literature. University of California, Berkeley: Center for Weight and Health. cnr.berkeley.edu/cwh.

Saville T, Woodward-Lopez G, Ikeda J and Crawford P (2000) Improving Children’s Academic Performance, Health and Quality of life: A Top Policy Commitment in Response to Children’s Obesity and Health Crisis in California.  Sacramento, CA: CEWAER. cnr.berkeley.edu/cwh

Breastfeeding Promotion Committee, California Department of Health Services Primary Care and Family Health (1996) Breastfeeding, Investing in California's Future. Sacramento, CA: Department of Health Services. (Woodward-Lopez G, Committee Member)

San Diego County Task Force for Medical Reimbursement of Breastfeeding Services (1995) Quality Assurance for Breastfeeding Services: Indicators. San Diego: Wellstart International. (Woodward-Lopez G, Task Force Member)

Wellstart International and the Univ. of Calif., San Diego (1994) (Woodward-Lopez G and Creer AE, eds) Lactation Management Curriculum: A Faculty Guide for Schools of Medicine, Nursing and Nutrition. San Diego, CA: Wellstart International.