Nutrition Obesity ReseArch (NORA) Lab

Meet the Lab Director

Dr. Wijayatunga has a diverse training experiences as she was trained as a physician, nutrition scientist and a registered dietitian. Dr. Wijayatunga obtained her medical training at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya and her Masters in Philosophy (MPhil) from University of Sri Jayewardenepura in Sri Lanka. She did her PhD in Nutritional Sciences under the guidance of Dr. Naims Moustaid-Moussa at Texas Tech University in Lubbock Texas. Before joining as a faculty at the University of Mississippi, Dr. Wijayatunga did her 2 year post-doc in Dr. Emily Dhurandhar’s lab in the Department of Kinesiology and Sport Management at Texas Tech University. To further gain experience in nutrition, she completed dietetic internship through the Iowa State University’s Individualized Supervised Practice and obtained registered dietitian credentials.

Nadeeja Niranjalie Wijayatunga

Assistant Professor of Nutrition & Hospitality Management

• nadeejaw@olemiss.edu
• 662-915-7371

Meet Our Team

We have an incredible team of graduate and undergraduate researchers that contribute to the NORA lab.

Somya Gupta

Graduate Research Assistant

Since Fall 2023

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Pouria Sefidmooye Azar

Graduate Research Assistant

Since Fall 2022

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Meghan Aubuchon

Undergraduate Researcher

Since Fall 2024

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Emily Crumbling

Undergraduate Researcher

Since Fall 2024

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Avery Dawson

Undergraduate Researcher

Since Fall 2023

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Payton Vickers

Undergraduate Researcher

Since Fall 2024

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Past Lab Members

Past Graduate Researchers

	Aminul Apu (Fall 2022 – Spring 2023) Aminul Apu is currently a third-year Ph.D. student at the University of Mississippi, majoring in Nutrition with a concentration in Applied Statistics. He also works as a graduate assistant at the Institute of Child Nutrition, where his research focuses on community nutrition, particularly examining food insecurity and its impact on dietary behaviors. Apu holds a Bachelor's degree in Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering from Islamic University, Bangladesh, and a Master's degree in Food and Nutrition Services from the University of Mississippi. He conducted a research study exploring food insecurity and acculturation in South Asian international students for his master’s research, with Dr. Wijayatunga as Co-adviser. In addition to his academic and research pursuits, he serves as the Chair-elect of the Student Division at the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior (SNEB) and is a Director of the Graduate Student Council (GSC) at the University of Mississippi.
	Ann Irvin Armstrong (Fall 2020 – Spring 2021) Ann Irvin completed her Master's in Food and Nutrition Service from the University of Mississippi. Dr. Wijayatunga was her Master’s thesis adviser, and she conducted a study determining the effectiveness of an educational intervention to reduce ageism. She was awarded first place in the Master’s category for the 3-Minute Thesis presentation organized by the Graduate School of the University of Mississippi in 2021. Currently, she is working as a clinical dietitian.
	Ja'Donnia Ballard (Fall 2022 – Summer 2024) Nia completed her Master’s in Food and Nutrition Service in our department. She worked as a research assistant for Dr. Wijayatunga in Fall 2022 and Spring 2023, assisting with data from a study using the anti-gravity treadmill in individuals with obesity. She is currently working as a clinical dietitian in MS Extension.
	Michael Hays II (Fall 2020 – Fall 2023) Michael is the first graduate student in the NORA lab and the first Ph.D. student to graduate from the NORA lab team. In Fall 2023, Michael earned his Ph.D. in Human Nutrition at the University of Mississippi while completing his dietetic internship. After graduating, he earned his registered dietitian and certified strength and conditioning specialist credentials. His dissertation focused on time-restricted eating and resistance training, involving a meta-analysis and a randomized controlled trial, with Dr. Wijayatunga as his main adviser. Michael played football at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee, earning a BA in Business Administration. After working as a business analyst in Cincinnati, Ohio, he returned to school at the University of Kentucky, where he earned a BS in Dietetics and an MS in Nutrition and Food Systems. Michael is currently working as a performance dietitian and adjunct professor at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.
	Kevin Tomasko (2022 – 2023) Kevin graduated in Spring 2023 with a Master's in Food and Nutrition Services from the University of Mississippi. He conducted his master’s research with Dr. Wijayatunga, focusing on a study examining stress and physician trust in individuals with obesity. Originally from Suffield, Connecticut, Kevin completed his BS in Dietetics at the University of New Hampshire. After graduating with his Master's, he completed a dietetic internship at Larkin Community Hospital in Miami, FL, and is currently working as an Olympic Sports Nutrition Fellow at the University of Cincinnati.
	Justin Whitten (Fall 2022 – August 2024) Justin Whitten graduated with a Master of Science in Food and Nutrition Services and completed the coordinated program in dietetics in August 2024 at the University of Mississippi. He was a graduate research assistant in the NORA lab under the guidance of Dr. Wijayatunga from Spring 2022 to Fall 2023, researching the behaviors and lifestyles of individuals with normal weight obesity. Justin previously graduated from the University of Mississippi with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and was commissioned as an Intelligence Officer through the Army ROTC in 2011, serving in the Mississippi National Guard for six years. Since then, Justin has held diverse leadership roles in multiple industries, including the military, logistics, business, and community wellness.

Past Undergraduate Researchers

	Madison Ferris, BS (Fall 2020 – Fall 2021) Madison Ferris graduated from The University of Mississippi in May of 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics with an emphasis in Health Science. Originally from New Orleans, LA, she worked in the NORA Lab with Dr. Wijayatunga on research focusing on normal weight obesity and its impact on people's attitudes and overall perception of health. Madison currently attends medical school at the University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Medicine, with an anticipated graduation date of May 2027.
	Madeline Lightsey (Fall 2023 – Spring 2024)
	Olivia Virden, BS (Fall 2022 – Spring 2024)

More About the NORA Lab

Research Focus

At the NORA Lab, we engage in interdisciplinary collaborative research to address various facets of obesity and nutrition. One of our primary research themes is understanding the behavioral aspects of "obesities," including the phenomenon of unhealthy lean, where individuals may appear of normal weight but face underlying metabolic health challenges.

We also focus on studying the effects of weight stigma and developing interventions to reduce its impact on affected populations. Additionally, our lab explores the role of time-restricted eating on body composition, examining factors related to adherence and its various effects on health.

A recent area of interest is investigating the health and nutrition risks faced by South Asian international students, a group with unique challenges. We also conduct various nutrition related research including consumer research related to food purchasing and ageism in dietetics.

Lab Facilities

Our lab is a clinical/ behavioral research lab located in the South Oxford Campus and has ~400ft2 laboratory space with tables and chairs. Participant recruitment/study visits will take place here.

Equipment

• Bioelectrical impedance analyzer (InBody 270 BIA) – Measure body fat and fat free mass.
• Blue tooth stadiometer and weighing scale: Stadiometers and digital weighing scales are available to measure height and weight.
• Alere Cholestech LDX® Analyzer: Alere Cholestech LDX® Analyzer is available to measure blood glucose and lipids using capillary blood in the NORA lab
• Glucometer: To measure capillary blood glucose levels is available in the NORA lab.
• Automated arterial blood pressure meter (Omron): CHSP has a blood pressure meter to measure blood pressure
• GT9X Actigraph accelerometer: Wijayatunga has a total of 25 hip-worn accelerometers (Actigraph GT9X) to measure physical activity.
• 4⁰C Refrigerator: For storage of biological samples and Cholestech LDX kit

Special Software

• Nutrition Data System for Research (NDSR) software - A Windows-based diet analysis software which could be used to collect and analyze 24-hour dietary recalls, food records, menus, and recipes. 
• Actilife software - Actilife (ActiGraph; Pensacola, FL) software is used to analyze accelerometer data to assess physical activity levels.

Research Communications

Selected Publications

Wijayatunga, N.N.⁺, Chang, Y., Brown, A., Webster, A., Sollid, K., Ahn, J., & Bailey, D. Perceptions and preferences for environmentally sustainable food and associated factors in a nationally representative survey of United States Consumers. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Epub ahead of print. doi: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2024.07.026. (Impact factor 6.5)  - Article in press

Wijayatunga, N.N., Bailey, D., Klobodu, S.S., Donatello, R., Knight, K., & Dhurandhar, E.J.⁺ (2024). Alignment with Health at Every Size may be associated with lower weight blaming among registered dietitians in the United States. Topics in Clinical Nutrition, 39(3), 238-247. https://doi: 10.1097/tin.0000000000000371. (Impact factor 0.4)

Wijayatunga, N.N.⁺, Wellman J., & Tomasko K.* (2023). Exploring factors associated with gender differences in perceived stress among adults with higher body weight in the United States - A cross-sectional analysis. Obesities, 3, 287-295. https://doi.org/10.3390/obesities3040023. 

Wijayatunga, N.N.⁺, Kim, H., Hays, H.M., & Kang, M. (2022). Objectively measured physical activity is lower in individuals with normal weight obesity in the US- NHANES 2003-2006 in the United States. International Journal of Environmental Research & Public Health, 19(18), 11747. https://doi: 10.3390/ijerph191811747. (Cite Score 7.3).

Wijayatunga, N.N.⁺, & Dhurandhar, E.J. (2021). Normal weight obesity and unaddressed cardiometabolic health risk—A narrative review. International Journal of Obesity, 45, 2141–2155. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-021-00858-7. (Impact factor 4.2). 

Wijayatunga, N.N⁺, & Fernandez-del-Valle, M. (2023). Not so normal unhealthy lean. In J.J. Robert-McComb, M. Zumwalt, and M. Fernandez-del-Valle (Eds). The Active Female: Health issues throughout the lifespan, (3^rd ed., pp 545-562). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-15485-0_30

 

Selected Conference Abstracts

Hays, H.M.*, Kim, H., Kang, M., & Wijayatunga, N.N.⁺ (2023). Differences in cardiorespiratory fitness and normal weight obesity based on NHANES 1999-2004 surveys - A cross-sectional study. Journal of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 123(10), A18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2023.08.038

Sefidmooye Azar, P.*, Hays, H., Kang, M., Chang, Y., Tinsley, G., & Wijayatunga, N.N.⁺ (2023). Effects of time-restricted eating on calorie intake and body weight in free-living adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Current Developments in Nutrition, 7(S1), 100737. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cdnut.2023.100737 

Hays, H.M.*, Sefidmooye Azar, P., Kang, M., Tinsley, G., & Wijayatunga, N. N.⁺ (2023). Effects of time-restricted eating combined with exercise on body composition: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Current Developments in Nutrition, 7(S1), 100727. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cdnut.2023.100727

Wijayatunga, N.N.* ⁺, Chang, Y., Brown, A., Webster, A., Sollid, K., & Bailey, D. (2022). Signals of environmental sustainability and influence on food purchasing decisions by U.S. consumers. Journal of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 122(10), A108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2022.08.062

Armstrong, A.I., Hays, H. M., Kim, Y., Carithers, T., Wellman, J., & Wijayatunga, N.N.*⁺ (2022). Reducing ageism in an undergraduate nutrition class using an online educational intervention. Current Developments in Nutrition, 14 (6) (S1), 422. https://doi.org/10.1093/cdn/nzac056.002.

Wijayatunga, N.N.*⁺, Kim, H., Hays, H.M., & Kang, M. (2021). Moderate to vigorous physical activity is less in normal weight obesity in the United States - Cross-sectional study. Obesity, 29, 47- 197. https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.23329

Wijayatunga, N.N.*, Ding, L, & Piyathilake, C.⁺ (2021). Ancestry-specific interactions between circulatory folate and one-carbon metabolism genes’ haplotypes for higher-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Current Developments in Nutrition. 5(S2), 285. https://doi.org/10.1093/cdn/nzab036_027 

Wijayatunga, N.N.*⁺, Kim, H, Jung, M., & Kang, M. (2020). Handgrip strength is lower in metabolically unhealthy normal weight individuals in the United States. Obesity, 28(S2), 104. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/oby.23063