Leslie Gerstenfeld

GFI Fellow - Class of 2021

Institute for Global Health Science
UC San Francisco

DESCRIPTION

2021-22 GFI student fellow

Leslie is working with the Water First Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial evaluating the impact of food insecurity on the adoption of water drinking behavior in elementary school children. Food insecure children are at higher risk for obesity compared to food secure children. Increasing access to drinking water is aimed at reducing caloric intake, particularly reducing consumption of sugar sweetened beverages (SSB) including sodas and flavored milk. These SSBs contribute unnecessary, nutrient-poor calories to children's diets. With the steady increase of childhood obesity rates in the U.S., effective promotion of alternatives to SSBs may help sensitive populations reduce their obesity burden.