She is a developmental psychologist with expertise in early childhood influences on problematic eating behaviors and overweight. As a developmental scientist with expertise in influences on dysregulated eating behaviors and the development of overweight and obesity in childhood, the results of her work provide evidence that factors within the family environment, including parenting behaviors and family resources, represent a context for problematic eating and weight outcomes in children. Her primary research interests are in understanding factors that influence the disproportionate burden of obesity in children from low-resource and minority families.