Linda Bandini, PhD, RD

Scholarly, Research, and/or Practice Interests

• Childhood Obesity; Energy expenditure in children; Health promotion, dietary intake and physical activity in children with developmental disabilities.

Courses Taught

• HS 742 Nutrition and Disease Prevention
• HS 775 Advanced Clinical Nutrition

Selected Publications

• Curtin, C., Hyman, S.L., Boas, D., Hassink, S., Broder-Fingert, S., Ptomey, L.T., Dryer, M., Fleming, R.K., Must A, Bandini, L.G. Weight management in primary care for children with autism: review and expert recommendations, Pediatrics. 2020;145(Suppl 1): S126-S139. doi:10.1542/peds.2019-1895P
• Folta SC, Curtin C, Must A, Pehrson A, Ryan K, Bandini L. Impact of Selective Eating on Social Domains Among Transition-Age Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Qualitative Study. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 2020; 50:2902-2912. doi:10.1007/s10803-020-04397-4 
• Walls M, Phillips S,  Eliasziw M, Jackel C, Must A, Bandini LG, Curtin C, Broder-Fingert  S. Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician’s Diagnosis and coding of overweight and obesity in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Dev Behav Pediatr 2020;41:258-264. 
• Bandini, L.G., Curtin, C., Eliasziw, M., Phillips, S., Jay, L., Maslin, M. and Must, A. Food selectivity in a diverse sample of young children with and without intellectual disabilities. Appetite 2019; 133:433-440.
• Chistol LT, Bandini LG, Must A, Phillips S, Cermak SA, Curtin C. Sensory sensitivity and food selectivity in children with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of autism and developmental disorders. 2018 Feb 1;48(2):583-91
• Polfuss, M, Bandini LG, Sawin KJ. Obesity prevention for individuals with spina bifida. Current Obesity Reports 2017; 6:116-126.
• Weems M, Truex L, Scampini R, Fleming R Curtin C,  Bandini L.   A novel weight loss tool for adolescent with intellectual disabilities. J Acad Nutr Diet 2017;117 (10) :1503-1508 . pii: S2212-2672(16). 
• Must A, Eliasziw M, Phillips S, Curtin C, Kral, Segal M, Sherwood N, Stanish H, Bandini L. The effect of age on the prevalence of obesity among US youth with autism spectrum disorder. Child Obes.  2017:25-35. 
• Bandini LG, Curtin C, Phillips S, Anderson SE, Maslin M, and Must A. Changes in food selectivity in children with autism spectrum disorder.  J Autism Dev Disord. 2017;47:439-446. 
• Segal M, Eliasziw M, Phillips S, Bandini L, Curtin C, Kral K, Sherwood N, Sikich L, Stanish H, and Must A.  Intellectual disability is associated with increased risk for obesity in a nationally representative sample of U.S. children.  Disabil Health J. 2016;9(3):392-8. 
• Curtin C, Must A, Phillips S, and Bandini L.  The Healthy Weight Research Network: a research agenda to promote healthy weight among youth with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities.  Pediatric Obesity. 2017;12(1):e6-e9.  doi: 10.1111/ijpo.12109.. 
• Curtin C, Hubbard K, Anderson SE, Mick E, Must A, Bandini LG.  Food selectivity, mealtime behavior problems, spousal stress, and family food choices in children with and without autism spectrum disorder. J Aut Dev Disord 2015;45:3308-3315.
• Bandini L, Danielson M, Esposito LE, Foley JT, Fox MH, Frey GC, Fleming RK, Krahn G, Must A, Porretta DL, Rodgers AB, Stanish H, Urv T, Vogel  LC, Humphries K.  Obesity in children with developmental and/or physical disabilities.  Disabil Health J. 2015 Jul;8(3):309-16. doi: 10.1016/j.dhjo.2015.04.005. 
• Curtin C, Bandini L, Must A, Phillips S, Maslin M, Lo, C, Gleason J, Fleming RK, Stanish H.  Including youth with intellectual disabilities in health promotion research: development and reliability of a structured interview to assess the correlates of physical activity among youth.  Journal of Appl Research in Intellectual Disabilities 2016;29:378-86

Research Funding

• HRSA/MCHB MCH Research Network on Promoting Healthy Weight (HWRN) among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and other Special Health Care Needs, Principal Investigator.
• NIH Body Composition and Energy Expenditure in Youth with Spina Bifida, (Polfuss PI) Role: Co-investigator
• NIH A Pilot and Feasibility Study to Promote Physical and Food Literacy among Children with Intellectual Disabilities. (Curtin PI) Role: Co-investigator

Consulting and Professional Activities

• Professor, Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center, UMASS Medical School, Department of Pediatrics
• Director of Nutrition, Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) program, UMMS
• Member, National Advisory Board: Promoting Obesity prevention among children with Developmental disabilities and families through Engaged Research” (PODER means Power) Research Study PI Sandra Magana,

Licenses and Certification

• Registered Dietitian (RD)