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Brian E. Saelens, PhD

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Brian E. Saelens, PhD

Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Psychology

On staff since February 2007

Academic Title: Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Research Center: Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development

"I would try to find ways to help children and adults be more active and eat more healthfully, even if I weren’t paid to do it. It’s fascinating to explore how we can help people change behaviors that are difficult to change and help them sustain those changes. This is an issue that cuts across a large percentage of our population. We need better solutions, and we’re close to knowing at least a few."

Making a Difference

Overview

Medical/Professional School
SUNY - University of Buffalo The Graduate School, Buffalo
Fellowship
Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego
Research Description

I conduct research in environmental influences on physical activity and eating behaviors and on the psychosocial factors that influence individual choice for weight-related behaviors. This work includes examining how the neighborhood environment impacts weight status, physical activity and dietary behaviors across the lifespan. I also work in the evaluation and improvement of family-based behavioral treatment for pediatric overweight.

Lab URL

http://www.seattlechildrens.org/research/child-health-behavior-and-development/saelens-lab/

Research Focus Area

Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Behavioral / Mental Health

Publications

Income disparities in perceived neighborhood built and social environment attributes.
Health & place , : : 1274-83
Neighborhood environment and psychosocial correlates of adults' physical activity.
Medicine and science in sports and exercise , 2012 Apr: 44(4)637-46
Neighborhood environment and psychosocial correlates of adults' physical activity.
Medicine and science in sports and exercise , 2012 Apr: 44(4)637-46
Role of Carbohydrate Modification in Weight Management among Obese Children: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
The Journal of pediatrics , 2012 Feb 28
Role of Carbohydrate Modification in Weight Management among Obese Children: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
The Journal of pediatrics , 2012 Feb 28
Associations between perceived neighborhood environmental attributes and adults' sedentary behavior: Findings from the USA, Australia and Belgium.
Social science & medicine (1982) , 2012 Feb 23
Associations between perceived neighborhood environmental attributes and adults' sedentary behavior: Findings from the USA, Australia and Belgium.
Social science & medicine (1982) , 2012 Feb 23
Role of built environments in physical activity, obesity, and cardiovascular disease.
Circulation , 2012 Feb 7: 125(5)729-37
Societal values and policies may curtail preschool children's physical activity in child care centers.
Pediatrics , 2012 Feb: 129(2)265-74
Reliability and Validity of CHAMPS Self-Reported Sedentary-to-Vigorous Intensity Physical Activity in Older Adults.
Journal of physical activity & health , 2012 Feb: 9(2)225-36
Physical activity in child-care centers: do teachers hold the key to the playground?
Health education research , 2012 Feb: 27(1)81-100
Interactions between psychosocial and built environment factors in explaining older adults' physical activity.
Preventive medicine , 2012 Jan 1: 54(1)68-73
Psychosocial correlates of shape and weight concerns in overweight pre-adolescents.
Journal of youth and adolescence , 2012 Jan: 41(1)67-75
Preadolescents' and parents' dietary coping efficacy during behavioral family-based weight control treatment.
Journal of youth and adolescence , 2012 Jan: 41(1)86-97
Food marketing to children through toys: response of restaurants to the first U.S. toy ordinance.
American journal of preventive medicine , 2012 Jan: 42(1)56-60
Is fear of strangers related to physical activity among youth?
American journal of health promotion : AJHP , 2012 Jan-Feb: 26(3)189-95
Aging in neighborhoods differing in walkability and income: associations with physical activity and obesity in older adults.
Social science & medicine (1982) , 2011 Nov: 73(10)1525-33
Home, school, and neighborhood environment factors and youth physical activity.
Pediatric exercise science , 2011 Nov: 23(4)487-503
Intrapersonal, behavioral, and environmental factors associated with meeting recommended physical activity among rural Latino youth.
Pediatric exercise science , 2011 Nov: 23(4)521-36
Income disparities in perceived neighborhood built and social environment attributes.
Health & place , 2011 Nov: 17(6)1274-83
Interactions between psychosocial and built environment factors in explaining older adults' physical activity.
Preventive medicine , 2011 Oct 15
The impact of menu labeling on fast-food purchases for children and parents.
American journal of preventive medicine , 2011 Oct: 41(4)434-8
The impact of menu labeling on fast-food purchases for children and parents.
American journal of preventive medicine , 2011 Oct: 434-8
Aging in neighborhoods differing in walkability and income: Associations with physical activity and obesity in older adults.
Social science & medicine (1982) , 2011 Sep 21
Neighborhood Environment and Psychosocial Correlates of Adults' Physical Activity.
Medicine and science in sports and exercise , 2011 Sep 16
Differences in Physical Activity Among Adults in Households With and Without Children.
Journal of physical activity & health , 2011 Sep 12
Differences in Physical Activity Among Adults in Households With and Without Children.
Journal of physical activity & health , 2011 Sep 12
Association between travel times and food procurement practices among female supplemental nutrition assistance program participants in eastern North Carolina.
Journal of nutrition education and behavior , 2011 Sep-Oct: 43(5)385-9
Association between travel times and food procurement practices among female supplemental nutrition assistance program participants in eastern North Carolina.
Journal of nutrition education and behavior , 2011 Sep-Oct: 385-9
Physical activity in child-care centers: do teachers hold the key to the playground?
Health education research , 2011 Jul 29
Importance of early weight change in a pediatric weight management trial.
Pediatrics , 2011 Jul: 128(1)e33-9
Importance of early weight change in a pediatric weight management trial.
Pediatrics , 2011 Jul: e33-9
Psychosocial Correlates of Shape and Weight Concerns in Overweight Pre-Adolescents.
Journal of youth and adolescence , 2011 Jun 22
From neighborhood design and food options to residents' weight status.
Appetite , 2011 Jun: 56(3)693-703
From neighborhood design and food options to residents' weight status.
Appetite , 2011 Jun: 693-703
Neighborhood environment profiles related to physical activity and weight status: a latent profile analysis.
Preventive medicine , 2011 May 1: 52(5)326-31
Wide variability in physical activity environments and weather-related outdoor play policies in child care centers within a single county of Ohio.
Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine , 2011 May: 165(5)435-42
Neighborhood environment profiles related to physical activity and weight status: a latent profile analysis.
Preventive medicine , 2011 May 1: 326-31
Wide variability in physical activity environments and weather-related outdoor play policies in child care centers within a single county of Ohio.
Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine , 2011 May: 435-42
Community Food Environment, Home Food Environment, and Fruit and Vegetable Intake of Children and Adolescents.
Journal of nutrition education and behavior , 2011 Apr 28
Community Food Environment, Home Food Environment, and Fruit and Vegetable Intake of Children and Adolescents.
Journal of nutrition education and behavior , 2011 Apr 28
Adolescent screen time and rules to limit screen time in the home.
The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine , 2011 Apr: 48(4)379-85
Efficacy of increasing physical activity to reduce children's visceral fat: a pilot randomized controlled trial.
International journal of pediatric obesity : IJPO : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity , 2011 Apr: 6(2)102-12
Adolescent screen time and rules to limit screen time in the home.
The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine , 2011 Apr: 379-85
Efficacy of increasing physical activity to reduce children's visceral fat: a pilot randomized controlled trial.
International journal of pediatric obesity : IJPO : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity , 2011 Apr: 102-12
Worksite physical activity policies and environments in relation to employee physical activity.
American journal of health promotion : AJHP , 2011 Mar-Apr: 25(4)264-71
Worksite physical activity policies and environments in relation to employee physical activity.
American journal of health promotion : AJHP , 2011 Mar-Apr: 264-71
Commuting by public transit and physical activity: where you live, where you work, and how you get there.
Journal of physical activity & health , 2011 Jan: 8 Suppl 1S72-82
Commuting by public transit and physical activity: where you live, where you work, and how you get there.
Journal of physical activity & health , 2011 Jan: S72-82
Objective light-intensity physical activity associations with rated health in older adults.
American journal of epidemiology , 2010 Nov 15: 172(10)1155-65
Objective light-intensity physical activity associations with rated health in older adults.
American journal of epidemiology , 2010 Nov 15: 1155-65
Psychosocial and familial impairment among overweight youth with social problems.
International journal of pediatric obesity : IJPO : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity , 2010 Oct: 5(5)428-35
Psychosocial and familial impairment among overweight youth with social problems.
International journal of pediatric obesity : IJPO : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity , 2010 Oct: 428-35
Adults' physical activity patterns across life domains: cluster analysis with replication.
Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association , 2010 Sep: 29(5)496-505
Adults' physical activity patterns across life domains: cluster analysis with replication.
Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association , 2010 Sep: 496-505
Child obesity associated with social disadvantage of children's neighborhoods.
Social science & medicine (1982) , 2010 Aug: 71(3)584-91
Child obesity associated with social disadvantage of children's neighborhoods.
Social science & medicine (1982) , 2010 Aug: 584-91
Evaluating a brief self-report measure of neighborhood environments for physical activity research and surveillance: Physical Activity Neighborhood Environment Scale (PANES).
Journal of physical activity & health , 2010 Jul: 7(4)533-40
Evaluating a brief self-report measure of neighborhood environments for physical activity research and surveillance: Physical Activity Neighborhood Environment Scale (PANES).
Journal of physical activity & health , 2010 Jul: 533-40
Neighborhood land use diversity and physical activity in adjacent parks.
Health & place , 2010 Mar: 16(2)413-5
Neighborhood land use diversity and physical activity in adjacent parks.
Health & place , 2010 Mar: 413-5
The use of biosimulation in the design of a novel multilevel weight loss maintenance program for overweight children.
Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.) , 2010 Feb: 18 Suppl 1S91-8
The use of biosimulation in the design of a novel multilevel weight loss maintenance program for overweight children.
Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.) , 2010 Feb: S91-8
Brief scales to assess physical activity and sedentary equipment in the home.
The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity , 2010 Jan 31: 710
Brief scales to assess physical activity and sedentary equipment in the home.
The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity , 2010 Jan 31: 10
Flip flops, dress clothes, and no coat: clothing barriers to children's physical activity in child-care centers identified from a qualitative study.
The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity , 2009 Nov 6: 674
Flip flops, dress clothes, and no coat: clothing barriers to children's physical activity in child-care centers identified from a qualitative study.
The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity , 2009 Nov 6: 74
A randomized pilot study of multisystemic therapy targeting obesity in African-American adolescents.
The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine , 2009 Oct: 45(4)417-9
A randomized pilot study of multisystemic therapy targeting obesity in African-American adolescents.
The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine , 2009 Oct: 417-9
Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale for Youth (NEWS-Y): reliability and relationship with physical activity.
Preventive medicine , 2009 Aug-Sep: 49(2-3)213-8
Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale for Youth (NEWS-Y): reliability and relationship with physical activity.
Preventive medicine , 2009 Aug-Sep: 213-8
Recommended community strategies and measurements to prevent obesity in the United States.
MMWR. Recommendations and reports : Morbidity and mortality weekly report. Recommendations and reports / Centers for Disease Control , 2009 Jul 24: 58(RR-7)1-26
Cross-validation of the factorial structure of the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale (NEWS) and its abbreviated form (NEWS-A).
The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity , 2009 Jun 9: 632
Cross-validation of the factorial structure of the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale (NEWS) and its abbreviated form (NEWS-A).
The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity , 2009 Jun 9: 32
Factors associated with pediatric hypertension in Mexico.
Journal of the American Dietetic Association , 2009 Jun: 109(6)992-5
Factors associated with pediatric hypertension in Mexico.
Journal of the American Dietetic Association , 2009 Jun: 992-5
Neighborhood built environment and income: examining multiple health outcomes.
Social science & medicine (1982) , 2009 Apr: 68(7)1285-93
Relation of school environment and policy to adolescent physical activity.
The Journal of school health , 2009 Apr: 79(4)153-9; quiz 205-6
Work group I: Measures of the food and physical activity environment: instruments.
American journal of preventive medicine , 2009 Apr: 36(4 Suppl)S166-70
Neighborhood built environment and income: examining multiple health outcomes.
Social science & medicine (1982) , 2009 Apr: 1285-93
Relation of school environment and policy to adolescent physical activity.
The Journal of school health , 2009 Apr: 153-9; quiz 205-6
Work group I: Measures of the food and physical activity environment: instruments.
American journal of preventive medicine , 2009 Apr: S166-70
Environmental and safety barriers to youth physical activity in neighborhood parks and streets: reliability and validity.
Pediatric exercise science , 2009 Feb: 21(1)86-99
Age differences in the relation of perceived neighborhood environment to walking.
Medicine and science in sports and exercise , 2009 Feb: 41(2)314-21
Environmental and safety barriers to youth physical activity in neighborhood parks and streets: reliability and validity.
Pediatric exercise science , 2009 Feb: 86-99
Age differences in the relation of perceived neighborhood environment to walking.
Medicine and science in sports and exercise , 2009 Feb: 314-21
Impact of the food environment and physical activity environment on behaviors and weight status in rural U.S. communities.
Preventive medicine , 2008 Dec: 47(6)600-4
Where are youth active? Roles of proximity, active transport, and built environment.
Medicine and science in sports and exercise , 2008 Dec: 40(12)2071-9
Impact of the food environment and physical activity environment on behaviors and weight status in rural U.S. communities.
Preventive medicine , 2008 Dec: 600-4
Where are youth active? Roles of proximity, active transport, and built environment.
Medicine and science in sports and exercise , 2008 Dec: 2071-9
Physical activity, weight status, and neighborhood characteristics of dog walkers.
Preventive medicine , 2008 Sep: 47(3)309-12
Physical activity, weight status, and neighborhood characteristics of dog walkers.
Preventive medicine , 2008 Sep: 309-12
Association of park size, distance, and features with physical activity in neighborhood parks.
American journal of public health , 2008 Aug: 98(8)1451-6
Association of park size, distance, and features with physical activity in neighborhood parks.
American journal of public health , 2008 Aug: 1451-6
Built environment correlates of walking: a review.
Medicine and science in sports and exercise , 2008 Jul: 40(7 Suppl)S550-66
Built environment correlates of walking: a review.
Medicine and science in sports and exercise , 2008 Jul: S550-66
Visceral fat is worth measuring and measuring well.
Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine , 2008 May: 162(5)491-2
Visceral fat is worth measuring and measuring well.
Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine , 2008 May: 491-2
Reliability and validity of destination-specific barriers to walking and cycling for youth.
Preventive medicine , 2008 Apr: 46(4)311-6
The efficacy of a clinic-based behavioral nutrition intervention emphasizing a DASH-type diet for adolescents with elevated blood pressure.
The Journal of pediatrics , 2008 Apr: 152(4)494-501
Reliability and validity of destination-specific barriers to walking and cycling for youth.
Preventive medicine , 2008 Apr: 311-6
The efficacy of a clinic-based behavioral nutrition intervention emphasizing a DASH-type diet for adolescents with elevated blood pressure.
The Journal of pediatrics , 2008 Apr: 494-501
Income and racial disparities in access to public parks and private recreation facilities.
American journal of preventive medicine , 2008 Jan: 34(1)9-15
Income and racial disparities in access to public parks and private recreation facilities.
American journal of preventive medicine , 2008 Jan: 9-15
Recommendations for treatment of child and adolescent overweight and obesity.
Pediatrics , 2007 Dec: 120 Suppl 4S254-88
Recommendations for treatment of child and adolescent overweight and obesity.
Pediatrics , 2007 Dec: S254-88
Stepping towards causation: do built environments or neighborhood and travel preferences explain physical activity, driving, and obesity?
Social science & medicine (1982) , 2007 Nov: 65(9)1898-914
Neighborhood walkability and the walking behavior of Australian adults.
American journal of preventive medicine , 2007 Nov: 33(5)387-95
Stepping towards causation: do built environments or neighborhood and travel preferences explain physical activity, driving, and obesity?
Social science & medicine (1982) , 2007 Nov: 1898-914
Neighborhood walkability and the walking behavior of Australian adults.
American journal of preventive medicine , 2007 Nov: 387-95
Efficacy of maintenance treatment approaches for childhood overweight: a randomized controlled trial.
JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association , 2007 Oct 10: 298(14)1661-73
Efficacy of maintenance treatment approaches for childhood overweight: a randomized controlled trial.
JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association , 2007 Oct 10: 1661-73
Clinician's comment on treatment of childhood overweight meta-analysis.
Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association , 2007 Sep: 26(5)533-6
Clinician's comment on treatment of childhood overweight meta-analysis.
Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association , 2007 Sep: 533-6
Pretreatment and process predictors of outcome in interpersonal and cognitive behavioral psychotherapy for binge eating disorder.
Journal of consulting and clinical psychology , 2007 Aug: 75(4)645-51
Pretreatment and process predictors of outcome in interpersonal and cognitive behavioral psychotherapy for binge eating disorder.
Journal of consulting and clinical psychology , 2007 Aug: 645-51
Nutrition Environment Measures Study in restaurants (NEMS-R): development and evaluation.
American journal of preventive medicine , 2007 Apr: 32(4)273-81
Nutrition Environment Measures Survey in stores (NEMS-S): development and evaluation.
American journal of preventive medicine , 2007 Apr: 32(4)282-9
Nutrition Environment Measures Study in restaurants (NEMS-R): development and evaluation.
American journal of preventive medicine , 2007 Apr: 273-81
Nutrition Environment Measures Survey in stores (NEMS-S): development and evaluation.
American journal of preventive medicine , 2007 Apr: 282-9
Visceral abdominal fat is correlated with whole-body fat and physical activity among 8-y-old children at risk of obesity.
The American journal of clinical nutrition , 2007 Jan: 85(1)46-53
Visceral abdominal fat is correlated with whole-body fat and physical activity among 8-y-old children at risk of obesity.
The American journal of clinical nutrition , 2007 Jan: 46-53
Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale: validity and development of a short form.
Medicine and science in sports and exercise , 2006 Sep: 38(9)1682-91
Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale: validity and development of a short form.
Medicine and science in sports and exercise , 2006 Sep: 1682-91
Active commuting to school: Associations with environment and parental concerns.
Medicine and science in sports and exercise , 2006 Apr: 38(4)787-94
Active commuting to school: Associations with environment and parental concerns.
Medicine and science in sports and exercise , 2006 Apr: 787-94
The development of a data model for research on the environmental correlates of physical inactivity and obesity.
AMIA ... Annual Symposium proceedings / AMIA Symposium. AMIA Symposium , 2006: 970
The development of a data model for research on the environmental correlates of physical inactivity and obesity.
AMIA ... Annual Symposium proceedings / AMIA Symposium. AMIA Symposium , 2006: 970
Residents' perceptions of walkability attributes in objectively different neighbourhoods: a pilot study.
Health & place , 2005 Sep: 11(3)227-36
Residents' perceptions of walkability attributes in objectively different neighbourhoods: a pilot study.
Health & place , 2005 Sep: 227-36
Prevalence, characteristics, and correlates of teasing experiences among overweight children vs. non-overweight peers.
Obesity research , 2005 Aug: 13(8)1381-92
Prevalence, characteristics, and correlates of teasing experiences among overweight children vs. non-overweight peers.
Obesity research , 2005 Aug: 1381-92
Healthy nutrition environments: concepts and measures.
American journal of health promotion : AJHP , 2005 May-Jun: 19(5)330-3, ii
Healthy nutrition environments: concepts and measures.
American journal of health promotion : AJHP , 2005 May-Jun: 330-3, ii
The association of neighborhood design and recreational environments with physical activity.
American journal of health promotion : AJHP , 2005 Mar-Apr: 19(4)304-9
The association of neighborhood design and recreational environments with physical activity.
American journal of health promotion : AJHP , 2005 Mar-Apr: 304-9
Linking objectively measured physical activity with objectively measured urban form: findings from SMARTRAQ.
American journal of preventive medicine , 2005 Feb: 28(2 Suppl 2)117-25
Linking objectively measured physical activity with objectively measured urban form: findings from SMARTRAQ.
American journal of preventive medicine , 2005 Feb: 117-25
Psychological adjustment of obese youth presenting for weight management treatment.
Obesity research , 2004 Oct: 12(10)1576-86
Psychological adjustment of obese youth presenting for weight management treatment.
Obesity research , 2004 Oct: 1576-86
Measuring the environment for friendliness toward physical activity: a comparison of the reliability of 3 questionnaires.
American journal of public health , 2004 Mar: 94(3)473-83
Measuring the environment for friendliness toward physical activity: a comparison of the reliability of 3 questionnaires.
American journal of public health , 2004 Mar: 473-83
Neighborhood-based differences in physical activity: an environment scale evaluation.
American journal of public health , 2003 Sep: 93(9)1552-8
Environmental correlates of physical activity in a sample of Belgian adults.
American journal of health promotion : AJHP , 2003 Sep-Oct: 18(1)83-92
Neighborhood-based differences in physical activity: an environment scale evaluation.
American journal of public health , 2003 Sep: 1552-8
Environmental correlates of physical activity in a sample of Belgian adults.
American journal of health promotion : AJHP , 2003 Sep-Oct: 83-92
Overweight children's barriers to and support for physical activity.
Obesity research , 2003 Feb: 11(2)238-46
Overweight children's barriers to and support for physical activity.
Obesity research , 2003 Feb: 238-46
Environmental correlates of walking and cycling: findings from the transportation, urban design, and planning literatures.
Annals of behavioral medicine : a publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine , 2003 Spring: 25(2)80-91
Environmental correlates of walking and cycling: findings from the transportation, urban design, and planning literatures.
Annals of behavioral medicine : a publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine , 2003 Spring: 80-91
Physician weight counseling for adolescents.
Clinical pediatrics , 2002 Oct: 41(8)575-85
Physician weight counseling for adolescents.
Clinical pediatrics , 2002 Oct: 575-85
A randomized comparison of group cognitive-behavioral therapy and group interpersonal psychotherapy for the treatment of overweight individuals with binge-eating disorder.
Archives of general psychiatry , 2002 Aug: 59(8)713-21
A randomized comparison of group cognitive-behavioral therapy and group interpersonal psychotherapy for the treatment of overweight individuals with binge-eating disorder.
Archives of general psychiatry , 2002 Aug: 713-21
Home environmental influences on children's television watching from early to middle childhood.
Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBP , 2002 Jun: 23(3)127-32
Home environmental influences on children's television watching from early to middle childhood.
Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBP , 2002 Jun: 127-32
Behavioral weight control for overweight adolescents initiated in primary care.
Obesity research , 2002 Jan: 10(1)22-32
Behavioral weight control for overweight adolescents initiated in primary care.
Obesity research , 2002 Jan: 22-32

Primary Office

Seattle Children's Research Institute
CW8-6 - Child Health, Behavior and Development
2001 Eighth Ave
Seattle, WA 98121
206-884-7800

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