{"id":37,"date":"2016-06-07T11:39:27","date_gmt":"2016-06-07T15:39:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/bytelab\/?page_id=37"},"modified":"2026-09-17T11:06:33","modified_gmt":"2026-09-17T15:06:33","slug":"featured-press","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/bytelab\/featured-press\/","title":{"rendered":"Byte Lab Featured Press"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Research from the Big Data and Eating Decisions (Byte) Lab has been covered by national and international media, and Dr. Vadiveloo is a regular source for journalists reporting on diet, food policy, and cardiovascular health.<\/p>\n

Research from the lab in the news<\/h2>\n

Coverage of studies led or co-led by the lab, with the collaborators behind each project.<\/p>\n

Smart Cart study aims to promote healthier grocery purchases via app<\/a><\/h3>\n

Providence Business News<\/strong>, 12\/2025. Coverage of the Smart Cart 2.0 personalized incentive platform, developed with Alison Tovar (Brown University) and Anne N. Thorndike (Massachusetts General Hospital \/ Harvard Medical School).<\/p>\n

Researchers evaluate effectiveness of SNAP Incentive program<\/a><\/h3>\n

University of Rhode Island News<\/strong>, 11\/2025. Coverage of the What\u2019s On Your Plate evaluation of Rhode Island\u2019s Eat Well, Be Well program, with Alison Tovar, Emily Elenio, Vanessa Oddo, Julien Leider, and Lisa M. Powell (University of Illinois Chicago).<\/p>\n

Excessive ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) and poor nutrition tied to poor health<\/a><\/h3>\n

American Heart Association Newsroom<\/strong>, 8\/2025. News release for the AHA Science Advisory chaired by Dr. Vadiveloo, written with Christopher D. Gardner, Sara N. Bleich, Neha Khandpur, Alice H. Lichtenstein, Jennifer J. Otten, Casey M. Rebholz, Chelsea R. Singleton, Miriam B. Vos, and Selina Wang. Covered by ScienceDaily, TCTMD, and Gastroenterology Advisor, and the subject of a commentary by Dean Ornish in Circulation.<\/p>\n

Exploiting Sensory-Specific Satiety for Weight Loss<\/a><\/h3>\n

NutritionFacts.org<\/strong>, 8\/2021. Coverage of the lab\u2019s dietary variety and energy density research.<\/p>\n

Incentivizing what you eat for healthier choices<\/a><\/h3>\n

Momentum: Research & Innovation, University of Rhode Island<\/strong>, 6\/2019. Feature on the Smart Cart study, funded by the Foundation for Food and Agricultural Research, with Stephen A. Atlas and Ashley Buchanan (URI).<\/p>\n

Coverage of Rhode Island Foundation Medical Research Grants<\/em><\/h3>\n

Associated Press and 18 other outlets<\/strong>, 9\/2018. Coverage of the Rhode Island Foundation award supporting the lab\u2019s work on grocery purchase quality and diabetes prevalence.<\/p>\n

Focus on variety can lead to eating too many unhealthy foods<\/em><\/h3>\n

Reuters<\/strong>, 8\/2018. Coverage of the lab\u2019s dietary variety research, later cited in the American Heart Association Science Advisory on dietary diversity and obesity prevention.<\/p>\n

Discrimination based on weight doubles health risks<\/a><\/h3>\n

ScienceDaily<\/strong>, 10\/2016. Coverage of Vadiveloo and Mattei, Annals of Behavioral Medicine, on perceived weight discrimination and 10-year allostatic load.<\/p>\n

The Truth About Variety in Your Diet and How to Use It<\/em><\/h3>\n

Livestrong.com<\/strong>, 12\/2014. Coverage of the US Healthy Food Diversity Index.<\/p>\n

Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n

Expert commentary<\/h2>\n

Selected coverage in which Dr. Vadiveloo was interviewed as an expert source, grouped by outlet.<\/p>\n

The New York Times<\/h3>\n