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Brian Elbel

Dr. Elbel is the Assistant Dean for Strategic Initiatives in the Office of Science and Research of NYU Langone Health and an Associate Professor of Population Health and Health Policy at the NYU School of Medicine and NYU Wagner. Dr. Elbel is also the founding director of NYU Langone’s Comprehensive Program on Obesity. He studies how individuals make decisions that influence their health, with a particular emphasis on evaluation, obesity, and food choice. His work uses behavioral economics to understand health decision-making among vulnerable groups, and the role and influence of public policy on these decisions. Dr. Elbel’s research has included the impact of public policies mandating calorie labeling in restaurants; the impact of policies supporting the development of supermarkets in high need areas; and the influence of the food environment on childhood obesity, among other work.

His research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Science Foundation and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. His work has been featured in national television, radio, and print media. Dr. Elbel earned his B.A. from The University of Texas at Austin and MPH and PhD in Health Policy/Health Economics from Yale University.