Melissa Melough

Assistant Professor, Department of Health Behavior and Nutrition Sciences University of Delaware

Newark DE

Prof. Melough studies the interrelationships of nutritional and environmental factors influencing human health.

Contact

University of Delaware
View more experts managed by University of Delaware

View all Experts

Spotlight

Aug 16, 2023

1 min

Is dark chocolate really the healthier choice? New study reveals concerns

For those who love chocolate, dark chocolate is often seen as the "better" or "healthier" option. But is it really? This past December, Consumer Reports analyzed 28 dark chocolate bars from a variety of brands and found that 23 of them contained concerning levels of lead, cadmium or both. Melissa Melough, an assistant professor of behavioral health and nutrition at the University of Delaware, recently told The New York Times: “If you’re a regular consumer of these dark chocolates, I would be concerned." This concern is especially heightened if one is pregnant, breastfeeding or have a child who enjoys dark chocolate. For more on why dark chocolate may be concerning, reach out to Melough by clicking on her profile.

Social

Biography

Dr. Melough is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Behavioral Health and Nutrition. She is a nutritional epidemiologist and studies the interrelationships of nutritional and environmental factors influencing human health. Dr. Melough’s work aims to identify dietary approaches to promote health or mitigate the harmful effects of environmental chemicals. Her research focuses on populations with greatest vulnerability to nutritional inadequacies or harmful chemical exposures such as those in key developmental life stages and historically disadvantaged communities. Dr. Melough’s current research projects examine the roles of endocrine disruptors in the development of obesity, the influences of maternal nutrition on childhood outcomes, and novel dietary approaches to reduce chemical exposures or their associated health consequences.

Industry Expertise

Health and Wellness

Areas of Expertise

Nutrition

Epidemiology

Public Health

Molecular Epidemiology

Cancer Epidemiology

Media Appearances

Low Vitamin D in Pregnancy Tied to More Behavioral Problems in Children

HealthDay online

2023-04-27

Melissa M. Melough, Ph.D., from the University of Delaware in Newark, and colleagues examined the relationship between gestational 25(OH)D concentrations and childhood behavior. The analysis included mother-child dyads (early childhood [1.5 to 5 years], 1,688 dyads; middle childhood [6 to 13 years], 1,480 dyads) participating in the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes Program.

Higher levels of vitamin D during pregnancy linked to fewer behavioral problems in offspring

Mental Daily online

2023-04-05

The United States Dietary Guidelines identify vitamin D as a nutrient of interest. University of Delaware assistant professor of behavioral health and nutrition Melissa Melough found that low levels of this important nutrient during pregnancy may have negative effects on child health.

How to Avoid Lead and Cadmium in Chocolate

Lifehacker online

2023-02-16

The scary thing is that the average American already eats about five micrograms of cadmium per day in our regular daily diet, according to a 2019 study by Dr. Melissa Melough, an assistant professor of nutrition at the University of Delaware. You throw a couple daily ounces of dark chocolate into that average, and you could be above those safe levels.

Show All +

Articles

Sociodemographic Variation in Children's Health Behaviors During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Childhood Obesity

2023

Background: Societal changes during the COVID-19 pandemic may affect children's health behaviors and exacerbate disparities. This study aimed to describe children's health behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic, how they vary by sociodemographic characteristics, and the extent to which parent coping strategies mitigate the impact of pandemic-related financial strain on these behaviors.
Methods: This study used pooled data from 50 cohorts in the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes Program. Children or parent proxies reported sociodemographic characteristics, health behaviors, and parent coping strategies.

Greater Gestational Vitamin D Status is Associated with Reduced Childhood Behavioral Problems in the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes Program

The Journal of Nutrition

2023

Background
Vitamin D deficiency is common in pregnancy. Vitamin D plays an important role in the developing brain, and deficiency may impair childhood behavioral development.
Objectives
This study examined the relationship between gestational 25(OH)D concentrations and childhood behavior in the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program.

Changes in body mass index among school-aged youths following implementation of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010

JAMA Pediatrics

2023

Importance
The prevalence of obesity among youths 2 to 19 years of age in the US from 2017 to 2018 was 19.3%; previous studies suggested that school lunch consumption was associated with increased obesity. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA) strengthened nutritional standards of school-based meals.
Objective
To evaluate the association between the HHFKA and youth body mass index (BMI).

Show All +

Education

University of Connecticut

PhD

Nutritional Epidemiology

2019

Cornell University

Nutritional Sciences

2011

Languages

English