Sonia Vega Lopez
Asst Dean & Professor,
College of Health Solutions
Other ASU affiliations
Principal Investigator, Specialized Center of Excellence,
Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center (SIRC)
Senior Global Futures Scientist,
Global Futures Scientists and Scholars
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Phone: 602-496-3350
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850 North 5th Street Phoenix, AZ 85004
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Mail code: 9020Campus: Dtphx
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Long Bio
Sonia Vega-López is a Professor in Nutrition in the College of Health Solutions at Arizona State University. Vega-López is a bilingual and bicultural researcher, native of Mexico. Her research focuses on studying lifestyle factors, particularly those related to diet and physical activity, and how to modify them for the prevention of chronic diseases among Hispanic individuals. During her doctoral studies and post-doctoral training, her research focused on conducting controlled interventions to assess the metabolic effects of specific dietary factors on cardiometabolic disease risk, lipoprotein metabolism, inflammation, and oxidative stress. More recently her work involves (1) studying how diet quality and physical activity affect chronic disease risk in minority and underserved populations; (2) designing and implementing culturally-tailored diet and physical activity interventions for chronic disease reduction among Hispanic families; and (3) assessing the effect of community-based interventions on biomarkers of disease risk.
She received her doctorate in nutritional sciences from the University of Connecticut (2002) and completed her postdoctoral training in the Laboratory for Atherosclerosis and Metabolic Research at University of California-Davis Medical Center (2002-2003) and the Cardiovascular Nutrition Laboratory at the Jean Mayer U.S.D.A. Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University (2003-2006).
Education
- Ph.D. Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut 2002
- M.S. Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut 2000
- B.S. Food Chemistry, Universidad La Salle, Mexico 1997
Research Interests
- Nutrition and health disparities
- Evaluation of the effects of diet and lifestyle modifications on chronic disease risk factors, obesity, the metabolic disease and diabetes management
- Assessment of diet quality and its role in cardiometabolic health among Hispanic individuals
- Development of culturally sensitive strategies to aid Hispanics and other high-risk populations in chronic disease prevention
- Effect of diets and dietary components on the metabolism of cholesterol and lipoproteins
Publications
Select Recent Publications (past 3 years)
- Vega-López S, Venn B & Slavin JS. Relevance of the glycemic index and glycemic load for body weight, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Nutrients. 2018;10(10):1361. doi:10.3390/nu10101361
- Dellaserra C, Crespo NC, Todd M, Huberty J & Vega-López S. Perceived environmental and behavioral factors as possible mediators between acculturation and leisure-time physical activity among Mexican-American adults. Journal of Physical Activity and Health. 2018;15(9):683-691. doi:10.1123/jpah.2016-0701
- Vega-López S, Lindberg NM, Eckert G, Nicholson EL & Maupome G. Association of added sugar intake on dental outcomes among individuals of Mexican origin. Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology. 2018;46:376-384. doi:10.1111/cdoe.12378
- Kollannoor-Samuel G, Segura-Pérez S, Shebl FM, Hawley NL, Damio G, Chhabra J, Vega-López S, Fernandez ML & Pérez-Escamilla R. Nutrition facts panel use is associated with diet quality and dietary patterns among Latinos with type 2 diabetes. Publ Health Nutr. 2017;20(16):2909-2919. doi: 10.1017/S1368980017001860
- Goodwin R, Lucio J, Vega-López S & Bruening M. Exploring mindful eating and weight status among underserved youth and their parents living in public housing. Mindfulness. 2017;8(4):973-983. doi:10.1007/s12671-016-0674-x
- Pignotti GAP, Hook G, Ghan E & Vega-López S. Efficacy of nopales (Opuntia spp) on lipoprotein profile and oxidative stress among moderately hypercholesterolemic adults: a randomized crossover trial. J Funct Foods. 2016;27:115-121. doi: 10.1016/j.jff.2016.08.060
- Buman MP, Epstein DR, Gutierrez M, Herb C, Hollingshead K, Huberty JL, Hekler EB, Vega-López S, Ohri-Vachaspati P, Hekler AC & Baldwin CM. BeWell24: Development and process evaluation of a smartphone “app” to improve sleep, sedentary, and active behaviors in US vetrans with increased metabolic risk. Translational Behavioral Medicine: Practice, Policy and Research. 2016;6(3):438-448. doi:10.1007/x13142-015-0359-3
- Kollannoor-Samuel G, Shebl FM, Segura-Pérez S, Chhabra J, Vega-López S & Pérez-Escamilla R. Effects of food label use on diet quality and glycemic control among Latinos with type 2 diabetes in a community health worker-supported intervention. Am J Publ Health. 2016;106(6):1059-1066. Doi:10.2015/AJPH.2016.303091
For a complete list of publications visit: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/myncbi/1hoJgBaoNfCAe/bibliography/40318555/public/?sort=date&direction=ascending
Research Activity
Current/Recent Grants and Projects
- NIH/NIMHD – 2U54MD002316-11. Leveraging Bio-Cultural Mechanisms to Maximize the Impact of Multi-Level Preventable Disease Interventions with Southwest Populations. Co-Investigator (PI: Marsiglia F) and Principal Investigator for main project “Multi-level effects of a parenting intervention for enhancing Latino youth health behaviors”
- CONACYT (México) – Fronteras de la Ciencia 2016-01 #1883. Condiciones sociales y laborales y efecto en los patrones de alimentación y factores de riesgo cardiometabólico en mujeres de origen mexicano residentes en dos localidades urbanas de la frontera México-Estados Unidos. (Social and labor conditions and their effect on dietary patterns and cardiometabolic risk factors among Mexican-origin women residing in two urban areas along the Mexico-United States border.) Co-Investigator (PI: Meléndez Torres JM) and Principal Investigator for all activities in Phoenix
- North American Millers’ Association. Evaluating the effects of corn meal consumption on cardiometabolic outcomes and the gut microbiome in adults with high cholesterol. Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI: Whisner C)
- NIH/NHLBI – R00 HL129012. Smart Walk: A Physical Activity Program for African American Women. Co-Investigator (PI: Joseph R)
- NIH/NIA 1R21AG050084-01A1. Creating a tailored lifestyle intervention for midlife Mexican American men. Co-Investigator (PI: Hooker SP)
- NIH/NHLBI - 1K99HL129012. Smart Walk: A smartphone physical activity program for African American women. Co-Investigator and Mentor for Dr. Rodney Joseph (PI)
- NIH/NIDDK – 1R01DK099277-01A1 (ASU subcontract from Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research). Culturally competent behavioral intervention for diabetes risk reduction. Subcontract Principal Investigator; Co-Investigator (PI: Lindberg NM)
- American Heart Association – NCRP Winter 2014 Scientist Development Grant (National) – (ASU subcontract from San Diego State University). Community-academic partnership to promote cardiovascular health among underserved children and families. Subcontract Principal Investigator; Co-Investigator (PI: Crespo NC).
Courses
2025 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| NTR 692 | Research |
| NTR 792 | Research |
| NTR 799 | Dissertation |
| NTR 599 | Thesis |
| NTR 450 | Nutrition in the Life Cycle |
| NTR 780 | Practicum |
2024 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| NTR 599 | Thesis |
| NTR 792 | Research |
| NTR 799 | Dissertation |
| NTR 692 | Research |
| NTR 780 | Practicum |
| CHS 494 | Special Topics |
| NTR 450 | Nutrition in the Life Cycle |
2024 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| NTR 799 | Dissertation |
| NTR 599 | Thesis |
| NTR 692 | Research |
| NTR 792 | Research |
| NTR 780 | Practicum |
| NTR 599 | Thesis |
2024 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| NTR 692 | Research |
| NTR 792 | Research |
| NTR 799 | Dissertation |
| NTR 599 | Thesis |
| NTR 450 | Nutrition in the Life Cycle |
| NTR 780 | Practicum |
2023 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| NTR 599 | Thesis |
| NTR 792 | Research |
| NTR 799 | Dissertation |
| NTR 450 | Nutrition in the Life Cycle |
| NTR 692 | Research |
| CHS 493 | Honors Thesis |
| CHS 494 | Special Topics |
| NTR 780 | Practicum |
| CHS 494 | Special Topics |
| NTR 450 | Nutrition in the Life Cycle |
2023 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| NTR 799 | Dissertation |
| NTR 599 | Thesis |
| NTR 692 | Research |
| NTR 792 | Research |
| NTR 780 | Practicum |
| NTR 599 | Thesis |
2023 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| NTR 692 | Research |
| NTR 792 | Research |
| NTR 799 | Dissertation |
| NTR 599 | Thesis |
| NTR 450 | Nutrition in the Life Cycle |
| NTR 780 | Practicum |
| CHS 492 | Honors Directed Study |
2022 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| NTR 599 | Thesis |
| NTR 792 | Research |
| NTR 799 | Dissertation |
| NTR 450 | Nutrition in the Life Cycle |
| NTR 692 | Research |
| NTR 780 | Practicum |
2022 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| NTR 799 | Dissertation |
| NTR 599 | Thesis |
| NTR 692 | Research |
| NTR 792 | Research |
| NTR 780 | Practicum |
| NTR 599 | Thesis |
2022 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| NTR 692 | Research |
| NTR 792 | Research |
| NTR 799 | Dissertation |
| NTR 599 | Thesis |
| NTR 450 | Nutrition in the Life Cycle |
| NTR 780 | Practicum |
2021 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| NTR 599 | Thesis |
| NTR 792 | Research |
| NTR 799 | Dissertation |
| NTR 450 | Nutrition in the Life Cycle |
| NTR 692 | Research |
2021 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| NTR 799 | Dissertation |
| NTR 599 | Thesis |
| NTR 692 | Research |
| NTR 792 | Research |
| NTR 450 | Nutrition in the Life Cycle |
| NTR 450 | Nutrition in the Life Cycle |
| NTR 780 | Practicum |
| NTR 599 | Thesis |
2021 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| NTR 692 | Research |
| NTR 792 | Research |
| NTR 799 | Dissertation |
| NTR 599 | Thesis |
| NTR 450 | Nutrition in the Life Cycle |
| NTR 780 | Practicum |
2020 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| NTR 599 | Thesis |
| NTR 792 | Research |
| NTR 799 | Dissertation |
| NTR 450 | Nutrition in the Life Cycle |
| NTR 692 | Research |
2020 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| NTR 799 | Dissertation |
| NTR 599 | Thesis |
| NTR 692 | Research |
| NTR 792 | Research |
| NTR 599 | Thesis |
2020 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| NTR 692 | Research |
| NTR 792 | Research |
| NTR 799 | Dissertation |
| NTR 599 | Thesis |
| NTR 450 | Nutrition in the Life Cycle |
| NTR 780 | Practicum |
2019 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| NTR 599 | Thesis |
| NTR 792 | Research |
| NTR 799 | Dissertation |
| NTR 450 | Nutrition in the Life Cycle |
| NTR 692 | Research |
| CHS 494 | Special Topics |
Honors / Awards
- 2017-2019 - Investigador Nacional Nivel II, Sistema Nacional de Investigadores, Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT), México [National Resarcher Level II, National Researchers Registry, CONACYT, Mexico]
- 2016 - Dannon Institute's Academic Mid-Career Nutrition Leadership Institute
- 2014 - Participant, Fourteendth Annual Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR)/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Summer Institute on Randomized Behavioral Clinical Trials
- 2013-2014 - Participant, 2013 Cohort; NIH/NHLBI R25 "PRIDE" (Programs to Increase Diversity among Individuals Engaged in Health-Related Research) Summer Institute on Mentoring Researchers in Latino Health Disparities (Elder & Talavera, PIs), San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
- 2012 - Fellow of the American Heart Association and the Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism
- 2011-2012 - Early Career Faculty Research Fellowship, Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center
- 2007 - Dannon Institute's Nutrition Leadership Institute