Weight Loss Behaviors and Eating Patterns Used by Individuals Living with Spinal Cord Injuries/disorders 1855

Thursday, October 30, 2025

11:15 AM - 11:30 AM

Location: ROOM: Joliet Room >>> DIRECTIONS Third Floor >>> From the Main Elevator Bank, proceed right. Turn right at the Marquette Foyer. The Joliet Room is located at the end of the hall on your left.

Presenting Author(s)

Alex W.K. Wong, PhD, DPhil

Assistant Director/Associate Professor
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab/Northwestern University
Chicago, Illinois, United States

Slides Slides

Non-presenting Author(s)

Allen W. Heinemann, PhD FACRM (he/him/his)

Professor, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Northwestern University
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Rena Steiger-Chadwick, MPH (she/her/hers)

Research Health Science Specialist
Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital
Hines, Illinois, United States
Gary J. Farkas, Ph.D., MSCTI

Assistant Professor
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Miami, Florida, United States
Lorena Reyes, MS, RDN, LDN

Clinical Dietitian
Veteran Health Administration
Hines, Illinois, United States
Dan Eisenberg, MD, MS

Professor of Surgery
Stanford School of Medicine
Palo Alto, California, United States
Jennifer Burns, n/a (she/her/hers)

Research Project Manager
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
Chicago, Illinois, United States
VR

Vanessa Rosales

Research Assistant
Department of Veterans Affairs, Center for Innovation for Complex Chronic Healthcare
Hines, Illinois, United States
My H. Le (she/her/hers)

Project Coordinator
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Brian A. Bartle, Master of Public Health

Data analyst
Edward Hines Jr VA Hospital
Hines, Illinois, United States
Sherri LaVela, PhD, MPH, MBA

Research Health Scientist & Research Professor
Department of Veterans Affairs & Northwestern University
Hines, Illinois, United States

Learning Objectives:

Describe weight loss/control behaviors being used by individuals with SCI/D.
Describe the demographic, injury, and health characteristics of individuals engaging in weight loss behaviors compared to those who are not.
Describe the impact of independence in grocery selection and food preparation on weight loss behaviors.
Discuss the implications of potential harm in unhealthy weight loss behaviors, such as fad dieting, eliminating food groups, and prolonged fasting in persons with SCI/D.