InREACH Lab
Working to Improve Childhood Physical Activity and Nutrition Outcomes for All
The Innovative Research for Empowering Activity and Community Health Lab's research seeks to eliminate the disproportional burden of illness in childhood physical activity and nutrition outcomes among racial/ethnic minorities and socioeconomically disadvantaged populations through innovative behavioral interventions and policies in school and community settings.
More than one third of U.S. children and adolescents are obese or overweight, and many don't get the minimum of 60 minutes of daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity that healthcare providers recommend. Mendoza and his colleagues work in schools and communities to study ways to promote physical activity and healthy eating, and to encourage alternatives to TV watching and other sedentary activities.
Jason A Mendoza, MD, MPH
Jason Mendoza, MD, MPH, is a principal investigator in the Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development at Seattle Children's Research Institute, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington, a UW adjunct professor of health services and a professor of public health sciences at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. He teaches and practices general pediatrics at Harborview Medical Center both in the pediatric clinic and on the inpatient pediatric service.
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Carolina Nieto, PhD
Co-Leader
Carolina Nieto is from Mexico. She started working at the InREACH Lab in August 2023. She holds a BA in communication Science, an MA in art history and a PhD in communication. She is the qualitative methods enthusiast of the team, particularly enjoying designing and conducting study materials for Spanish-speaking and bilingual (Spanish/English) participants. She works closely with Margaret to achieve the goals of InREACH studies.
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Margaret Olsen, BA
Co-Leader, Clinical Research Coordinator
Margaret Olsen has been with InREACH Lab since 2019. Her BA in social work is from The Evergreen State College. She is interested in community and school-based research that promotes lifestyle habits like early reading, physical activity and family physical activity habits. She most enjoys spending time with her family outside.