2026 Kelly D. Brownell: Psychology Researcher – H-Index, Publications & Awards

Discipline name	D-Index	World Ranking	Current World Ranking	National Ranking	Current National Ranking	Publications	Citations
Psychology	117	289	250	182	155	271	59962
Medicine	128	2673	2494	1493	1371	350	75159

Research.com Recognitions

2012 - APA Distinguished Scientific Award for the Applications of Psychology, American Psychological Association
2012 - APA Award for Lifetime Contributions to Psychology, American Psychological Association.
2005 - Member of the National Academy of Medicine (NAM)
1987 - Fellow of the American Psychological Association (APA)

Overview

Kelly D. Brownell is affiliated with Duke University in the United States. Their research primarily spans the field of Medicine, with significant focus on Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health, Nutrition and Dietetics, Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis, General Health Professions, as well as Sociology and Political Science.

The scientist's work covers several major topics, including:

Child Nutrition and Water Access
Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
Consumer Attitudes and Food Labeling
Climate Change and Health Impacts
Health, Psychology, and Well-being
Climate Change Communication and Perception
Aquaculture Nutrition and Growth

Kelly D. Brownell has contributed to a number of recent publications, highlighting a range of interdisciplinary interests in nutrition, obesity prevention, food policy, and climate change impacts on health. These notable works include:

Recognize fish as food in policy discourse and development funding, 2021, published in AMBIO
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals and obesity risk: A review of recommendations for obesity prevention policies, 2021, published in Obesity Reviews
Role of food aid and assistance in addressing the double burden of malnutrition in Ghana: a qualitative policy analysis, 2020, published in BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health
Urban Public Food Procurement in Kiambu and Machakos Counties as a Driver of Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainability: A Literature Review and Case Studies, 2022, published in Sustainability
Transforming health psychology and behavioral medicine to address the climate crisis: A call for strategic research and advocacy, forthcoming 2025, to appear in Health Psychology

Their frequent collaborators include:

Kristi E. White
Judith Rodin
Ann M. Hollis
Michael A. Diefenbach
Katie E. Alegria

Kelly D. Brownell's publications have appeared in venues such as UNC Libraries, AMBIO, Obesity Reviews, BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health, and Sustainability.

Recognition for their contributions to psychology and health sciences include awards like the APA Distinguished Scientific Award for the Applications of Psychology and the APA Award for Lifetime Contributions to Psychology, both received in 2012. They are also a member of the National Academy of Medicine since 2005 and have been a Fellow of the American Psychological Association since 1987.

Best Publications

Bias, Discrimination, and Obesity

Rebecca Puhl;Kelly D. Brownell

3153
Citations
Effects of Soft Drink Consumption on Nutrition and Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Lenny R. Vartanian;Marlene B. Schwartz;Kelly D. Brownell

2578
Citations
Understanding and preventing relapse.

Kelly David Brownell;G. Alan Marlatt;Edward Lichtenstein;G. Terence Wilson

1623
Citations
Preliminary validation of the Yale Food Addiction Scale

Ashley N. Gearhardt;William R. Corbin;Kelly D. Brownell

1597
Citations
The impact of food prices on consumption: a systematic review of research on the price elasticity of demand for food.

Tatiana Andreyeva;Michael W. Long;Kelly D. Brownell

1522
Citations
Priming Effects of Television Food Advertising on Eating Behavior

Jennifer L. Harris;John A. Bargh;Kelly D. Brownell

1428
Citations
Confronting and Coping with Weight Stigma: An Investigation of Overweight and Obese Adults

Rebecca M. Puhl;Kelly D. Brownell

1411
Citations
Stress may add bite to appetite in women: a laboratory study of stress-induced cortisol and eating behavior

Elissa Epel;Rachel Lapidus;Bruce McEwen;Kelly Brownell

1411
Citations
Psychological correlates of obesity: moving to the next research generation.

Michael A. Friedman;Kelly D. Brownell

1396
Citations
Weight Bias among Health Professionals Specializing in Obesity

Marlene B. Schwartz;Heather O Neal Chambliss;Kelly D. Brownell;Steven N. Blair

1279
Citations
Eating disorders and obesity : a comprehensive handbook

Kelly D. Brownell;Christopher G. Fairburn

1234
Citations
Patchy progress on obesity prevention: emerging examples, entrenched barriers, and new thinking

Christina A. Roberto;Boyd Swinburn;Corinna Hawkes;Terry T.-K. Huang;Terry T.-K. Huang

1218
Citations
Perceptions of weight discrimination: prevalence and comparison to race and gender discrimination in America.

R M Puhl;T Andreyeva;K D Brownell

1210
Citations
Epidemiologic and economic consequences of the global epidemics of obesity and diabetes

Derek Yach;David Stuckler;Kelly D Brownell

1208
Citations
The public health and economic benefits of taxing sugar-sweetened beverages.

Kelly D. Brownell;Thomas Farley;Walter C. Willett;Barry M. Popkin

1014
Citations
Obesity and body image.

Marlene B Schwartz;Kelly D Brownell

1005
Citations
Food fight : the inside story of the food industry, America's obesity crisis, and what we can do about it

Kelly D. Brownell;Katherine Battle Horgen

1001
Citations
Variability of Body Weight and Health Outcomes in the Framingham Population

Lauren Lissner;Patricia M. Odell;Ralph B. D'Agostino;Joseph Stokes

950
Citations
Psychosocial origins of obesity stigma: toward changing a powerful and pervasive bias.

R. M. Puhl;K. D. Brownell

943
Citations
Obesity: responding to the global epidemic.

Thomas A. Wadden;Kelly D. Brownell;Gary D. Foster

923
Citations

Frequent Co-Authors

Marlene B. Schwartz University of Connecticut

Rebecca M. Puhl University of Connecticut

Christina A. Roberto University of Pennsylvania

Ashley N. Gearhardt University of Michigan–Ann Arbor

Albert J. Stunkard University of Pennsylvania

Thomas A. Wadden University of Pennsylvania

William R. Corbin Arizona State University

Judith Rodin Rockefeller Foundation

Carlos M. Grilo Yale University

David S. Ludwig Boston Children's Hospital

External Links

Personal website of Kelly D. Brownell

If you think any of the details on this page are incorrect, let us know.

Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

Studying psychology in the USA opens doors to a range of rewarding online degrees and specialized career pathways. Many students are interested in related fields such as speech-language pathology, which requires a strong understanding of behavioral science, communication, and clinical skills.

For those considering this path, each state has specific requirements for education, licensure, and certification. For example, if you are interested in practicing in Louisiana, be sure to review the Louisiana slp certification requirements. Similarly, if your goal is becoming a speech therapist in Maine, you will need to follow Maine's educational and licensing guidelines.

Other states, such as Maryland and Massachusetts, have their own standards to meet before you can practice professionally. Those interested should review the slp requirements in Maryland or look up Massachusetts slp certification requirements for state-specific information.

Exploring online psychology and allied health degrees can provide the flexibility you need to meet these requirements and launch a successful career in this growing field.