Mann on Eating Well

A little over a month into the new year, we may be reevaluating our new year resolutions. A popular resolution is making a change in our diets. This year, The New York Times started a weekly diet challenge - the Eat Well Challenge. Throughout this challenge, Traci Mann, PhD, professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Minnesota, was quoted several times. Below are the challenges in which she shared research-related insights.

UMN Researchers Present at the 55th Annual Minnesota Undergraduate Psychology Conference

On April 17th, several University of Minnesota Psychology students and faculty had the opportunity to present their research at the 55th Annual Minnesota Undergraduate Psychology Conference (MUPC). This virtual event hosted by the University of St. Thomas, allowed participants to engage in poster presentations and student talks as well as attend informational sessions and hear from Keynote speaker Dr. Bryana French of the University of St. Thomas.

Mann on The Struggle of Maintaining Weight Loss

A Today article titled “Frank Luntz reveals struggle to maintain weight loss: 'I can't be this miserable,” overviews Frank Luntz’s, a pollster for American politics, weight loss journey and the struggle he and so many others face when it comes to maintaining weight loss.

Dieting: Not the Answer to Weight Loss

In a Discover Magazine article titled “Forget Dieting. Here’s What Really Works to Lose Weight,” Traci Mann, PhD, a professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Minnesota, explains that constant dieting is not ideal for a pleasant life and leads to physiological changes that make it harder to stick to dieting. Some problems with dieting include the obsession with thoughts of food. While balancing your calorie intake and outtake can be helpful for losing weight, obsessing over it can be self-sabotaging. Mann suggests a better approach: accept our bodies and fight weight stigma.

New Year Resolutions

With a new year often comes a long list of resolutions. On the top of that list usually lies some type of change in diet. Due to the pandemic, many Americans say their diet has gotten increasingly worse. In a Consumer Reports article titled, “4 No-Fail Diet Resolutions,” researchers discuss how to set yourself up for success when it comes to dieting goals.

Students Address Properly Wearing a Mask

In Traci Mann’s, Health Psychology class, students were tasked with creating a public health campaign that encouraged proper mask use. Traci Mann, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Minnesota.

Mann was excited by the work she saw, as students applied their classroom knowledge to a real-world pressing issue.

Eating When Stressed - Even Ice Cream - Does Not Help

Many may notice that when times begin to get stressful, they tend to reach for comfort foods like pizza or ice cream. In an AARP article titled, “Tame Your Stress Eating,” researchers have found that two-thirds of Americans have been eating more feel-good foods since the start of the pandemic. When facing long-term stress, cortisol levels stay elevated, triggering a craving for high fatty and sugary foods.

Traci Mann on the Obstacles of Maintaining Weight Loss

“Thinsplaining,” a now-common term, refers to the situation in which a person who has never struggled with weight still assumes they are qualified to give advice or pass judgment on those who do. A Salon article titled, “Thinsplaining is real: Science says permanent weight loss is rare, and thin people don't get it,” explains that maintaining weight loss has very little to do with willpower and more so to do with how the brain reacts to processed foods similar to how it does with an addiction with drugs or alcohol.

Mann’s Book, Secrets from the Eating Lab, Quoted in UVAToday

Traci Mann, PhD, professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Minnesota’s book, Secrets from the Eating Lab, was mentioned in an article by University of Virginia Today titled “Q&A: Why People are ‘Stress Eating’ During the Pandemic, and How to Stop.” 

Furman Quoted in BBC Worklife

The research of Celina Furman, graduate student in the Department of Psychology at the University of Minnesota, is mentioned in a recent BBC Worklife article titled “The ‘Batman Effect’: How having an alter ego empowers you” 

Mann Receives Award for Excellence in Health Psychology Education and Training

Traci Mann, PhD, professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Minnesota is the 2020 recipient of the Society for Health Psychology’s (SfHP) Cynthia D. Belar Award for Excellence in Health Psychology Education and Training.  

Mann Receives 2020 COGS Outstanding Mentor Award

Traci Mann, PhD, professor in the Department of Psychology has received the 2020 Council of Graduate Students (COGS) Outstanding Mentor Award.  Mann was considered for this award because of her outstanding work with graduate students.  Erin Standen, graduate student in the social area, says,  “We (as Traci Mann's graduate students) are so proud and so grateful to have her as our advisor!”

Mann and Lenne Research Profiled by Forbes

Forbes recently profiled the research done by Traci Mann, PhD, professor and Richie Lenne, PhD, alum of the Department of Psychology at the University of Minnesota.  The Health and Eating Laboratory has been working on what might be the best strategy to help people reduce their sugar intake through coffee.  The research article titled “Reducing sugar use in coffee while maintaining enjoyment: A randomized controlled trial” expands on the process and conclusions of this research.

Mann Awarded the 2019-2020 Arthur "Red" Motley Exemplary Teaching Award

Congratulations to Traci Mann, PhD, professor within the Department of Psychology, for receiving the 2019-2020 Arthur "Red" Motley Exemplary Teaching Award.  Established in 1994, this annual award rewards top educators, who demonstrate a passion and commitment to teaching.

Standen Wins Innovative APA Grant

Erin Standen, a social psychology graduate student, has won the American Psychological Association of Graduate Students’ Psychological Science Research Grant. Standen’s research, Optimizing Calorie-Tracking Applications: Implications for behavioral and psychological health, will benefit from the $1,000 award.

Mann Quoted by Washington Post about ‘Veganuary’

Traci Mann, PhD professor in social psychology and director of the Health and Eating Laboratory, was quoted in a recent article by the Washington Post.

Mann Discusses Diet Culture on WRVO Public Radio

On November 23, Traci Mann, PhD, professor for social psychology appeared on WRVO public radio for an interview.

In WRVO’s podcast program Take Care, Mann talks about diets, and why they do not work. In the interview, she discusses the long term effects of dieting on a person’s body and emotional health.

August 2019 PhD Graduates

The Department of Psychology would like to congratulate the most recent group of graduate students that have completed their long journey to a PhD.