Samantha Hahn, MPH, RD

Samantha completed a dual major B.S. degree in Human Biology and Nutritional Sciences through the Lyman Briggs and Honors College at Michigan State University in May 2015. In September 2015 she entered the University of Michigan Department of Nutritional Sciences Doctoral Program. Since entering the doctoral program, Samantha has completed a Master of Public Health in Nutritional Sciences and become a Registered Dietitian to aid in her training as a future eating disorder researcher, public health and nutrition teacher, and her interest in treating eating disorders clinically.

Samantha Hahn is a PhD Candidate interested in eating disorder prevention and the unintended consequences of public health efforts to prevent and treat overweight/obesity. Her dissertation focuses on the use of weight-related self-monitoring, such as calorie counting or physical activity tracking, and how it impacts eating disorder risk among college students. Outside of her dissertation, she has focused on the health-related implications of weight misperception and weight stigma.

Research Interest & Projects (list)

• Eating disorder prevention
• Weight perception
• Weight stigma
• Self-monitoring

• Hahn SL, Borton KA, Sonneville KR. Cross-sectional associations between weight-related health behaviors and weight misperception among U.S. adolescents with overweight/obesity. BMC Public Health. 2018; 18(1):514.
• Hazzard VM, Hahn SL, Bauer KW, Sonneville KR. Binge eating-related concerns and depressive symptoms in young adulthood: Seven-year longitudinal associations and differences by race/ethnicity. Eat Behav. 2019;32:90-94.
• Hazzard VM, Hahn SL, Sonneville KR. Weight Misperception and Disordered Weight Control Behaviors Among U.S. High School Students with Overweight and Obesity: Associations and Trends, 1999-2013. Eat Behav. 2017; 26:189-195.
• Jumbe T, Comstock SS, Hahn SL, Harris WS, Kinabo J, Fenton JI. Whole Blood Levels of the n-6 Essential Fatty Acid Linoleic Acid Are Inversely Associated with Stunting in 2-to-6 Year Old Tanzanian Children: A Cross-Sectional Study. PLoS One. 2016;11(5):e0154715.

Selected Presentations:

• Hahn SL, Lipson SK, Sonneville KR, (2019, March). Knowledge of Nutrient and Caloric Content of Foods Eaten and Tracking of Caloric Intake Associated with Problematic Alcohol Use Among College Students. Poster session presented at the International Conference on Eating Disorders in New York City, New York, USA.
• Hahn SL, Lipson SK, Sonneville KR, (2018, April). Knowledge of Nutrient and Caloric Content of Foods Eaten and Tracking of Caloric Intake Associated with Increased Eating Disorder Risk Among College Students. Poster session presented at the International Conference on Eating Disorders in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
• Hahn SL, Behring B, Huang T, Shaver E, Tsimbler A, (2018, January). School Nutrition: Eating to Learn or Learning to Eat? Oral presentation at the Intersection of Food, Nutrition, and Policy Conference at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
• Hahn SL, Borton KA, Hazzard VM, Sonneville KR (2017, June). Overweight Perception Associated with Higher Levels of Weight Biased Attitudes and Weight Bias Internalization. Poster session presented at the Weight Stigma Conference in Prague, Czech Republic.
• Sonneville KR, Borton KA, Hahn SL, Hazzard VM (2017, June). Weight bias internalization associated with weight control behaviors but not healthier eating habits. Poster session presented at the Weight Stigma Conference in Prague, Czech Republic.
• Hazzard VM, Borton KA, Hahn SL, Sonneville KR (2017, June). Weight Bias Internalization Mediates Association between Weight Overvaluation and Depressive Symptoms among Young Adults with Overweight and Obesity. Poster session presented at the Weight Stigma Conference in Prague, Czech Republic.
• Hahn SL, Borton KA, Sonneville KR (2017, April). Associations Between Weight-Related Health Behaviors and Weight Perception in Adolescents with Overweight or Obesity. Poster session presented at Experimental Biology in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
• Hahn SL, Sonneville KR, Bauer KW (2016, October). Adolescent Weight Management Strategies: What are Teens Doing Today?  Poster session presented at the Michigan Metabolomics and Obesity Center Symposium at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
• Borton KA, Hahn SL¸ Sonneville KR (2016, October). Association Between Weight Related Health Behaviors and Weight Perception in Adolescents with Overweight and Obesity. Poster session presented at the Michigan Metabolomics and Obesity Center Symposium at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
• Hahn SL, Jumbe T, Harris WS, Kinabo J, Fenton JL (2015, March). Association of blood fatty acids and growth in Tanzanian children 2-6 years of age. Oral presentation and Emerging Leaders in Nutritional Sciences Poster Competition at Experimental Biology in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Teaching

Samantha is interested in teaching undergraduate and graduate public health courses, particularly with a focus in nutrition. In the past she has been a Graduate Student Instructor for undergraduate and graduate level courses in both general public health as well as nutrition specific courses. In addition, Samantha has completing the Graduate Student Teachers Certificate and has taken a graduate level course titled Teaching in Public Health.