Deborah I Thompson

Thompson

Deborah I Thompson, PhD, RD

Professor

(713) 798-7076

Email

Deborah.Thompson@usda.gov

Positions

Professor
Pediatrics-Nutrition
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, TX, US
Research Nutritionist
USDA-ARS
Children’s Nutrition Research Center
Houston, Texas, United States
Research Member
Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas, United States
Faculty Member
Biomedical Research Base
Baylor Diabetes Research Center
Houston, Texas, United States
Faculty Affiliate
Kinder Institute for Urban Research
Urban Health Program
Rice University
Houston, Texas, United States

Education

PhD from University of New Orleans
12/1999 - New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Curriculum & Instruction, Human Performance & Health Promotion
MS from University of North Carolina at Greensboro
12/1984 - Greensboro, North Carolina, United States
Nutrition
BS from University of North Carolina at Greensboro
12/1982 - Greensboro, North Carolina, United States
Nutrition

Certifications

Marketing Communications Certification
University of Houston
Focus Group Moderator Training, Richard Kreuger
University of South Florida

Honors & Awards

Borlaug CAST Communications Prize Nominee
US Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service (01/2024)
Plains Area Scientific Leadership Team
USDA/ARS (08/2020)
Plains Area Senior Research Scientist of the Year
USDA/ARS (02/2020)
Research Mentorship Award, Professor Level
Baylor College of Medicine (07/2018)
Fellow
Dannon Academic Mid-Career Nutrition Leadership Institute (01/2012 - 12/2012)
Finalist, Future Leader Award
International Life Sciences Institute North America (ILSI NA) (01/2010)

Professional Interests

  • Behavioral Nutrition
  • Physical Activity
  • Obesity Prevention
  • Diabetes Prevention/Management
  • Behavioral Theory
  • Children
  • Adolescents
  • Technology

Professional Statement

My research focuses on the prevention of youth obesity and related diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and certain cancers, through the promotion of healthy diet and physical activity. Specifically, my work can be placed into one of three categories – theory and measurement, to guide and accurately assess change; health message design to ensure developmentally and culturally appropriate intervention messages that resonate with the intended audience; and design, development, and evaluation of interventions promoting health diet and physical activity behaviors. Much of my intervention work focuses on understanding how to use digital media to reach youth in ways that encourage and maintain behavior change. To achieve these goals, I have developed an expertise in qualitative methods and have conducted ~100 trainings in qualitative techniques since 2001. Further, my intervention work has a firm theoretical grounding, and I have written and spoken nationally and internationally on the use of behavioral theory in technology-based interventions. I have a history of successfully conducting technology-based research and managing large, interdisciplinary research teams. I am also an experienced mentor and have successfully mentored numerous individuals (college to mid-career faculty) to help them acquire and/or refine research skills. In recognition of my contributions, in 2020 I received a Scientist of the Year award from USDA and in 2018, I was awarded the Research Mentorship Award, Professor Level from Baylor College of Medicine.

Websites

How to Use an Activity Monitor - English version
How to Use an Activity Monitor - Spanish version
NCBI Publications List
Debbe Thompson Lab

Selected Publications

Memberships

American Dietetic Association/Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics
International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity
Society of Behavioral Medicine

Funding

Cultivating Health: Integrating The Balance Living Curriculum with Gardening Education in Rural Texas Communities
#2026-46100-47125
$173,240.00   (09/14/2026 - 09/13/2029)
Grant funding from USDA/NIFA
Role: Co-I To improve health and well-being among children and families in rural Texas communities by integrating evidence-based health education from The Balanced Living curriculum with experiential gardening education to increase knowledge, skills, self-efficacy, and adoption of healthy nutrition and lifestyle behaviors.
Fuel Up for Life: Working with High School Coaches in Rural Communities to Promote Healthy Nutrition among High School Students
#59-3093-4-001
$300,000.00   (03/01/2026 - 02/29/2028)
Grant funding from USDA/ARS
Role: Primary Mentor The primary objective is to train postdoctoral fellows in community based research methods, how to use community insights and perspectives to develop an intervention, and how to identify intervention components most likely to yield a successful outcome. The ultimate goal is to create a program to help high school coaches in rural communities provide scientifically accurate nutrition guidance to active teens.
Comparative Feasibility and Effectiveness of Medically Tailored Meals Approaches for Pediatric End Stage Kidney Disease
#R01 DK141577
$918,982.00   (09/09/2025 - 06/30/2028)
Grant funding from NIH/NIDDK
Role: Co-I The purpose of our study is to conduct a short-term proof-of-concept 2-arm randomized comparative effectiveness trial to acquire preliminary data regarding feasibility and the impact of two medically tailored meals approaches - the culinary medicine-based medically tailored meals vs. pre-prepared medically tailored meals - for end stage kidney disease pediatric patients.
Using Community Engaged Research to Develop Content for a Digital Obesity Prevention Intervention for Teens Living in Rural Texas Communities
#58-3092-5-008
$550,000.00   (10/01/2024 - 09/30/2029)
Grant funding from USDA/ARS
Role: PI The purpose of this research is to conduct community engaged research with teens living in rural Texas communities to develop an obesity prevention program promoting healthy diet and physical activity behaviors.
Reducing obesity through play: A randomized control trial
#R01 HD114793
$3,209,892.00   (09/01/2024 - 05/31/2029)
Grant funding from NIH-NICHD
Role: Co-I This study will test whether a playgroup intervention improves diet and activity behaviors of toddlers to a greater extent than no treatment or standard health education for parents.
Identifying clinic barriers and facilitators affecting the implementation of a mobile app-based treatment for disorders of gut-brain interaction in children
#R03DK134789
$240,750.00   (04/01/2024 - 03/31/2027)
Grant funding from NIH-NIDDK
Role: Co-I This implementation science (ImS) proposal aims to develop a comprehensive implementation intervention to direct pediatric clinic personnel on (1) how to identify children at high risk for disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI), (2) diagnose affected children with a DGBI, and (3) prescribe and dispense our audio-recorded guided imagery therapy mobile app (ARGIT App) to affected children.
Leveraging passive objective assessment methods of preschooler’s media use to examine multiple paths of influence on sleep, executive function and weight status – Admin-Core-001
#1 P01 HD109876-01
$455,815.00   (09/01/2022 - 08/31/2027)
Grant funding from NIH/NICHD
Role: Project Lead The goal of this subproject is to provide administrative support to the overall program.
Leveraging passive objective assessment methods of preschooler’s media use to examine multiple paths of influence on sleep, executive function and weight status - Project 001
#1 P01 HD109876-01
$1,431,657.00   (09/01/2022 - 08/31/2027)
Grant funding from NIH/NICHD
Role: Co-I This subproject will assess whether children’s use of screen media influences their sleep and weight status and if sleep mediates this association.

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