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Yang Yu, PhD, MPH, MSN
  • Phone: (585) 275-6708
  • Office: HWH 2W124
  • Email: Yang Yu

Yang Yu, PhD, MPH, MSN

  • Assistant Professor

Education

  • PhD, 2019. University of Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh, PA

Bio

Yang Yu obtained her PhD and MPH from the University of Pittsburgh where she received substantial training on weight management and behavior change theories and practices. Her current research focuses on the disordered eating behaviors such as loss of control eating and binge eating in patients with severe obesity who are seeking or have undergone bariatric surgery. Through examining the physiological and psychosocial mechanisms underlying disordered eating behaviors, more tailored interventions can be developed to improve post-surgical weight loss outcome. She also has examined the overlapping between disordered eating behaviors and smoking, alcohol misuse and illicit drug use among bariatric patients.

Previously, Yu studied psychosocial and behavioral factors that contribute to weight loss among Chinese patients who have undergone sleeve gastrectomy. Her work has been published in peer-reviewed journals such as Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases and Obesity and American Journal of Health Behavior.


Awards

Highlight in the Editor’s Focus
Pediatric Research, 2022

Abstract of Distinction
American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery, 2022

Presentations

Prepregnancy Dieting and Perinatal Outcomes: Findings from a Nationally Representative Survey
The Obesity Society 2023, 2023
Dallas, Texas

Pre-surgical Predictors of 30-day Follow-up Visits after Primary Bariatric Surgery: an Analysis of MBSAQIP
American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Annual Meeting, 2021


Associations of Trimester-specific Eating Behaviors and Eating Patterns with Excessive Gestational Weight Gain
Eastern Nursing Research Society, 2021


Problem-solving, Adherence to Lifestyle Goals, and Weight Loss among Individuals Participating in a Weight Loss Study.
The Obesity Society, 2020


Publications

  • Brown, J.K., Yu, Y. & Xue, Y. (2025). Postlicensure nurse competence in the United States: A concept clarification. Journal of Nursing Regulation. DOI: 10.1016/j.jnr.2025.06.008

  • Yu, Y., Ma, Q., Zaman, A., & Groth, S. (2025). Adverse Health Outcomes Associated with Hypoglycemia Following Bariatric Surgery. Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders. PMID: 40267050 DOI: 10.1089/met.2025.0010

  • Dreisbach, C., Yu, Y., & Groth, S. (2025). Call to Action to Quantify Non-Severe and Severe Maternal Morbidity. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing. DOI: 10.1016/j.jogn.2025.01.004

  • Yu, Y., Ma, Q., & Groth,S. (2024). Prepregnancy weight loss and maternal metabolic and inflammatory biomarkers during pregnancy: An analysis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research. PMID: 38369640 DOI: 10.1111/jog.15904

  • Yu, Y., Ma, Q., & Groth, S.W. (2024). Prepregnancy dieting and obstetrical and neonatal outcomes: Findings from a national surveillance project in the United States. Midwifery. PMID: 38493519 DOI: 10.1016/j.midw.2024.103972

  • Yu, Y., & Groth, S.W. (2023). Use of Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Patients Following Bariatric Surgery: A Scoping Review. Obesity Surgery. PMID: 37410260 DOI: 10.1007/s11695-023-06704-1

  • Yu, Y., Yeh, K., Kalarchian, M.A., & Groth, S.W. (2023). Experiences of loss of control eating in women after bariatric surgery: A qualitative study. International Journal of Eating Disorders. PMID: 36786350 DOI: 10.1002/eat.23912

  • Yu Y., Lyo, V. & Groth, S.W. (2023). The impact of maternal bariatric surgery on long-term health of offspring: a scoping review. Pediatric Research. DOI: 10.1038/s41390-023-02698-9

  • Yu, Y., Ma, Q., Hollenbach, S., Zhu, Y., & Groth, S.W. (2022). Pregnant Women following Bariatric Surgery: A Focus on Maternal Mental Health and its Impact on Birth Outcomes. Obesity Surgery. DOI: 10.1007/s11695-022-06283-7

  • Yu, Y., Kalarchian, M.A., Ma, Q., & Groth, S.W. (2022). Corrigendum to Eating Patterns and Unhealthy Weight Control Behaviors are Associated with Loss of Control Eating following Bariatric Surgery: [Surg Obes Relat Dis. 17 (2021) 976-985, (Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases (2021) 17(976-985) (S1550728921000344), (10.1016/j.soard.2021.01.008)). Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases, 18 (7), 999. PMID: 35459622 DOI: 10.1016/j.soard.2022.03.013

  • Yu, Y., Ma, Q., & Groth, S.W. (2022). Association between maternal psychological factors and offspring executive function: analysis of African-American mother–child dyads. Pediatric Research. PMID: 35505078 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-022-02084-x

  • Yu, Y., Miller, R., & Groth, S.W. (2022). A literature review of dopamine in binge eating. Journal of Eating Disorders, 10 (1). PMID: 35090565 PMCID: PMC8796589 DOI: 10.1186/s40337-022-00531-y

  • Yu, Y., Ma, Q., & Groth S.W. (2022). Risk factors for preterm birth in pregnancies following bariatric surgery: an analysis of the Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery-2. Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases. PMID: 35995663 PMCID: PMC9617754 DOI: 10.1016/j.soard.2022.07.013

  • Yu, Y., Ma, Q., & Groth. S.W. (2022). Desire to lose weight was associated with the adoption of weight control strategies but not healthier lifestyle behaviours among post‐bariatric surgery patients: NHANES 2013–2018. Clinical Obesity. PMID: 35170233 DOI: 10.1111/cob.12511

  • Yu, Y., Ma, Q., Johnson, J.A., O'Malley, W.E., Sabbota, A., & Groth, S.W. (2022). Predictors of 30-day follow-up visit completion after primary bariatric surgery: an analysis of the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program data registry. Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases. PMID: 34974998 DOI: 10.1016/j.soard.2021.12.003

  • Yu, Y., Kalarchian, M.A., Ma, Q., & Groth, S.W. (2021). Eating patterns and unhealthy weight control behaviors are associated with loss-of-control eating following bariatric surgery. Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases, 17 (5), 976-985. PMID: 33619009 PMCID: PMC8096657 DOI: 10.1016/j.soard.2021.01.008

  • Yu, Y., Ma, Q., Fernandez, I.D., & Groth, S.W. (2021). Mental Health, Behavior Change Skills, and Eating Behaviors in Postpartum Women. Western Journal of Nursing Research. PMID: 34088249 PMCID: PMC8670629 DOI: 10.1177/01939459211021625

  • Yu, Y., Fernandez, I.D., Meng, Y., Zhao, W., & Groth, S.W. (2021). Gut hormones, adipokines, and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines/markers in loss of control eating: A scoping review. Appetite, 166. PMID: 34111480 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2021.105442

  • Yu, Y., Sereika, S.M., Finegold, D.N., & Burke, L.E. (2021). Problem-solving, Adherence to Lifestyle Goals, and Weight Loss Among Individuals Participating in a Weight Loss Study. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine. DOI: 10.1007/s12529-020-09922-4

  • Groth, S.W., Fernandez, I.D., Block, R.C., Thurston, S.W., Wong, E., Brunner, J., Mayo, N., Kapula, N., Yu, Y., Meng, Y., Yeh, K., Kinkade, C.W., Thornburg, L.L., O'Conner, T.G., & Barrett, E.S. (2021). Biological changes in the pregnancy-postpartum period and subsequent cardiometabolic risk—UPSIDE MOMS: A research protocol. Research in Nursing and Health. PMID: 33993510 PMCID: PMC8378197 DOI: 10.1002/nur.22141

  • Yu, Y., Sereika, S.M., Finegold, D.N., & Burke, L.E. (2020). Problem-solving, Adherence to Lifestyle Goals, and Weight Loss Among Individuals Participating in a Weight Loss Study. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine. PMID: 32681361 DOI: 10.1007/s12529-020-09922-4

  • Burke, L.E., Conroy, M.B., Parmanto B., Beatrice, B., Loar, I., Pulantara, W., Wang, Y., Kariuki, J., Cajita, M., Yu, Y., Cedillo, M., & Sereika, S.M. (2020). The SMARTER Trial: Design of a trial testing tailored mHealth feedback to impact self-monitoring of diet, physical activity, and weight. Contemporary Clinical Trials. PMID: 32087342 PMCID: PMC7269678 DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2020.105958

  • Yu, Y., Burke, L.E., Shen, O., Imes, C.I., Sun, R., Groth, S., Zhang, W., & Melissa A. Kalarchian, M.A. (2020). A Qualitative Exploration of Patients’ Experiences with Lifestyle Changes After Sleeve Gastrectomy in China. Obesity Surgery. PMID: 32385666 DOI: 10.1007/s11695-020-04653-7

  • Sun, R., Rohay, J., Sereika, S.M., Zheng, Y., Yu, Y., & Burke, L.E. (2019). Psychometric Evaluation of the Barriers to Healthy Eating Scale: Results from Four Independent Weight Loss Studies. Obesity. PMID: 30843367 PMCID: PMC6478518 DOI: 10.1002/oby.22414

  • Yu, Y., Klem, M.L., Kalarchian, M.A., Ji, M., & Burke, L.E. (2019). Predictors of weight regain after sleeve gastrectomy: an integrative review. Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases. PMID: 31085036 DOI: 10.1016/j.soard.2019.02.009

  • Mao, Y., Wang, S., Li, M., Huang, M., Mo, M., Gu, L., Muyiduli, X., Lian, H., Jiang, S., Wang, Z., & Shao, B. (2019). Association of trimester-specific gestational weight gain with birth weight and fetal growth in a large community-based population. Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics. DOI: 10.1007/s00404-019-05188-8

  • Yu, Y., Shiffman, S., Rohay, J., Ma, Q., Sun, R., Sereika, S.M., & Burke, L.E. (2018). Psychometric Evaluation of the Relapse Situation Efficacy Questionnaire in a Weight Loss Treatment Study. American Journal of Health Behavior. PMID: 29973313 DOI: 10.5993/AJHB.42.4.8

Projects
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