Courtney Choy, MPH, PhD
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About
Titles
Postdoctoral Associate
Fogarty Global Health Equity Postdoctoral Fellow of Epidemiology, Chronic Disease EpidemiologyBiography
Dr. Courtney Choy is a postdoctoral fellow in Chronic Disease Epidemiology at the Yale School of Public Health. In Samoa, Courtney Choy serves as a Fogarty Global Health Scholar at the Ministry of Health, where she is co-leading the fourth wave of data collection for the Ola Tuputupua’e study and supporting research efforts of the Obesity Lifestyle and Genetic Adaptation (OLaGA) group. She will also be involved in research on the influence of school environments on modifiable risk factors, body size, and cardiometabolic disease markers among children in Samoa. This work is an extension of her six years of experience in Samoa, starting from her Yale MPH summer research, 2016-2017 Fulbright Research Fellowship, and to 2019-2020 National Institute of Health Predoctoral fellowships (F31 Ruth Kirschstein National Research Service Award and Fogarty Global Health Scholar Program). Dr. Choy's current research focuses broadly on child growth and development, cardiometabolic disease, Asian-Pacific Islander population health, the application of longitudinal and multilevel data analyses, and life course epidemiology. Her mentors are Dr. Nicola Hawley in the US and Leausa S.T. Dr. Take Naseri in Samoa.
Education & Training
- PhD
- Brown University, Epidemiology (2021)
- MPH
- Yale School of Public Health, Chronic Disease Epidemiology (2016)
- BS
- Georgetown University, Biology of Global Health (2014)
Research
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Courtney Choy's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Courtney Choy's research output by year.
Nicola Hawley, PhD
David J Leffell, MDCM
Mayur M. Desai, PhD, MPH, FACE
Nicole Deziel, PhD, MHS
Bohao Wu
Claudia Valeggia, PhD
19Publications
136Citations
Publications
2022
The missense variant, rs373863828, in CREBRF plays a role in longitudinal changes in body mass index in Samoans
Fu H, Hawley NL, Carlson JC, Russell EM, Pomer A, Cheng H, Naseri T, Reupena M, Deka R, Choy CC, McGarvey ST, Minster RL, Weeks DE. The missense variant, rs373863828, in CREBRF plays a role in longitudinal changes in body mass index in Samoans. Obesity Research & Clinical Practice 2022, 16: 220-227. PMID: 35606300, PMCID: PMC9373717, DOI: 10.1016/j.orcp.2022.04.004.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsBMI rateHousehold asset scoreAA genotypeBody mass indexMissense variantsBMI of femalesSex-stratified modelsHigh rateAG participantsBaseline BMIMean BMICohort studyMass indexSamoan adultsPhysical activityGG genotypeBMIAge groupsA alleleLongitudinal changesAsset scoreRs373863828Older participantsFemalesCREBRFIs overweight or obesity associated with anemia in children? Follow-up of Samoans in the Ola Tuputupua’e “Growing Up” study
Choy CC, Howe CJ, Soti-Ulberg C, Naseri T, Reupena MS, Duckham RL, Hawley NL. Is overweight or obesity associated with anemia in children? Follow-up of Samoans in the Ola Tuputupua’e “Growing Up” study. Obesity Research & Clinical Practice 2022, 16: 144-150. PMID: 35256305, PMCID: PMC9636893, DOI: 10.1016/j.orcp.2022.02.008.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsOverweight/obesityObesity-related inflammationPrevalence ratiosIron deficiencyDouble burdenPrevalence of anemiaBody mass indexAge z-scorePoisson regression modelsCohort studyMass indexSamoan childrenHigh prevalenceObesityAnemiaZ-scoreCovariate adjustmentConfidence intervalsMicronutrient deficienciesInflammationChildrenPrevalenceFurther investigationRegression modelsDeficiency
2021
Persistence of anaemia among Samoan preschool age children: a longitudinal study
Wu B, Choy CC, Rivara AC, Soti-Ulberg C, Naseri T, Reupena MS, Duckham RL, Hawley NL. Persistence of anaemia among Samoan preschool age children: a longitudinal study. Public Health Nutrition 2021, 24: 5995-6006. PMID: 34521497, PMCID: PMC8608721, DOI: 10.1017/s1368980021003980.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsPersistence of anemiaAnemia prevalenceDaily dietary iron intakeHigher daily sodium intakeDaily sodium intakeDietary iron intakeRisk of anemiaMother-child pairsPersistent anemiaSodium intakeIron intakeRisk factorsRoutine screeningAnemiaPoisson regressionPreschool-age childrenOlder mothersPrevention effortsHousehold correlatesPrevalenceLongitudinal studyConsecutive wavesChildrenAge childrenMothersComparability of The Netherlands Physical Activity Questionnaire with Accelerometer-Measured Physical Activity in Samoan Children: A Retrospective Analysis of Ola Tuputupua’e Data
Warmath CR, Choy CC, Frame EA, Sherar LB, Duckham RL, Soti-Ulberg C, Naseri T, Reupena MS, Hawley NL. Comparability of The Netherlands Physical Activity Questionnaire with Accelerometer-Measured Physical Activity in Samoan Children: A Retrospective Analysis of Ola Tuputupua’e Data. International Journal Of Environmental Research And Public Health 2021, 18: 8438. PMID: 34444185, PMCID: PMC8391931, DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18168438.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsPhysical Activity QuestionnaireActivity QuestionnairePhysical activityHigh-intensity physical activityMonitor wear timePhysical activity levelsPhysical activity measurementPhysical activity dataAccelerometer outcomesCardiometabolic healthMixed longitudinal studyObesity developmentRetrospective analysisCombination of questionsChild growthWear timeActivity levelsMarginal meansAged childrenTertileScoresChildrenIndividual questionsQuestionnaireSamoan childrenC‐reactive protein in adult Samoans: Population variation and physiological correlates
Rivara AC, Corley M, Choy CC, Duckham RL, Pomer A, Reupena MS, Viali S, Naseri T, Kershaw EE, Crouter SE, McGarvey ST, Bribiescas RG, Valeggia C, Hawley NL. C‐reactive protein in adult Samoans: Population variation and physiological correlates. American Journal Of Human Biology 2021, 34: e23646. PMID: 34260111, PMCID: PMC8758804, DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23646.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsC-reactive proteinBody mass indexCardiometabolic disease riskMeasures of adiposityAdult SamoansCRP correlateDisease riskSerum C-reactive proteinMeasures of BMICardiometabolic risk markersPercent body fatSex-dependent associationsCardiometabolic markersCardiometabolic riskCRP quartileMass indexUnadjusted analysesRisk markersBody fatKruskal-Wallis testAdiposityPacific Islander populationsSpearman rank correlationFirst examinationRank correlation
2020
Effect of maternal nutrient intake during 31–37 weeks gestation on offspring body composition in Samoa
Arslanian KJ, Fidow UT, Atanoa T, Naseri T, Duckham RL, McGarvey ST, Choy C, Hawley NL. Effect of maternal nutrient intake during 31–37 weeks gestation on offspring body composition in Samoa. Annals Of Human Biology 2020, 47: 587-596. PMID: 32892647, PMCID: PMC7900936, DOI: 10.1080/03014460.2020.1820078.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsInfant body compositionDual-energy X-ray absorptiometryFood frequency questionnaireBody compositionDietary intakeBone massNutrient intakeMaternal body mass indexNewborn body compositionPregnancy dietary intakeMaternal dietary intakeOffspring body compositionMultivariable linear regression modelsBody mass indexWeeks of gestationMaternal nutrient intakeX-ray absorptiometryEnergy-dense dietPregnancy nutritionFrequency questionnaireFuture obesityInfant adiposityWeeks' gestationMass indexThird trimesterAssessing the impact of high blood pressure referrals on hypertension awareness and management, BMI, and blood pressure values in adult Samoans 2010–2019
Rivara AC, Pomer A, Naseri T, Reupena MS, Viali S, Choy CC, McGarvey ST, Hawley NL. Assessing the impact of high blood pressure referrals on hypertension awareness and management, BMI, and blood pressure values in adult Samoans 2010–2019. Annals Of Human Biology 2020, 47: 597-601. PMID: 32924611, PMCID: PMC8180238, DOI: 10.1080/03014460.2020.1822914.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsElevated blood pressureBody mass indexBlood pressureNon-communicable diseasesMedication usePhysician diagnosisRisk factorsLong-term health improvementsHypertension medication useBlood pressure valuesNCD risk factorsHypertension controlCardiometabolic healthHypertension awarenessMass indexAdult SamoansHealth referralsDisease burdenReduced oddsBP valuesSamoan adultsReferralLogistic regressionHealth sector actorsMcNemar testLongitudinal Assessment of Childhood Dietary Patterns: Associations with Body Mass Index z-Score among Children in the Samoan Ola Tuputupua'e (Growing Up) Cohort
Choy CC, Wang D, Naseri T, Soti-Ulberg C, Reupena MS, Duckham RL, Baylin A, Hawley NL. Longitudinal Assessment of Childhood Dietary Patterns: Associations with Body Mass Index z-Score among Children in the Samoan Ola Tuputupua'e (Growing Up) Cohort. Childhood Obesity 2020, 16: 534-543. PMID: 32907355, PMCID: PMC7575349, DOI: 10.1089/chi.2020.0058.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsDietary patternsHigh adherenceBody mass index zChildhood obesity prevention strategiesObesity prevention strategiesBody mass indexFood frequency dataChildhood dietary patternsBiological mother-child dyadsCohort studyMass indexPattern adherencePotential confoundersChildhood obesityPrevention strategiesMother-child dyadsLongitudinal assessmentTime pointsConvenience sampleAdherenceBMIzIntervention strategiesChildrenScoresAssociationEstimated Dietary Bisphenol-A Exposure and Adiposity in Samoan Mothers and Children
Heinsberg LW, Bui CNN, Hartle JC, Sereika SM, Choy CC, Wang D, Soti-Ulberg C, Naseri T, Reupena MS, Duckham RL, Park JJ, Hawley NL, Deziel NC. Estimated Dietary Bisphenol-A Exposure and Adiposity in Samoan Mothers and Children. Toxics 2020, 8: 67. PMID: 32887300, PMCID: PMC7560430, DOI: 10.3390/toxics8030067.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsBody mass indexDietary BPA exposureAbdominal circumferenceBPA exposureModern dietary patternBisphenol A (BPA) exposureMother-child pairsDietary questionnaireMass indexPrevalent obesityFoods/beveragesDietary patternsSamoan mothersSignificant associationEndocrine disruptor bisphenolHigher incomeUnderstudied populationExposure indexMothersChildrenExposureFurther examinationAssociationHousehold-level characteristicsIndexExploring the Paradoxical Relationship of a Creb 3 Regulatory Factor Missense Variant With Body Mass Index and Diabetes Among Samoans: Protocol for the Soifua Manuia (Good Health) Observational Cohort Study
Hawley NL, Pomer A, Rivara AC, Rosenthal SL, Duckham RL, Carlson JC, Naseri T, Reupena MS, Selu M, Lupematisila V, Unasa F, Vesi L, Fatu T, Unasa S, Faasalele-Savusa K, Wetzel AI, Soti-Ulberg C, Prescott AT, Siufaga G, Penaia C, To SB, LaMonica LC, Lameko V, Choy CC, Crouter SE, Redline S, Deka R, Kershaw EE, Urban Z, Minster RL, Weeks DE, McGarvey ST. Exploring the Paradoxical Relationship of a Creb 3 Regulatory Factor Missense Variant With Body Mass Index and Diabetes Among Samoans: Protocol for the Soifua Manuia (Good Health) Observational Cohort Study. JMIR Research Protocols 2020, 9: e17329. PMID: 32706746, PMCID: PMC7413272, DOI: 10.2196/17329.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsINTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIEROdds of obesityCREBRF variantOral glucose tolerance testSubcutaneous adipose tissue samplesObservational cohort studyOdds of diabetesPrevalence of obesityBody mass indexGlucose tolerance testType 2 diabetesBlood pressure measurementsGrip strength measurementsObjective physical activityMain study protocolHand grip strength measurementsGlycated hemoglobin measurementAdipose tissue samplesBody composition assessmentCohort studyMass indexAdult SamoansTolerance testBlood drawStudy protocol
Academic Achievements and Community Involvement
activity Ola Tuputupua'e (Growing Up) in Samoa Study
ResearchDetails06/01/2015 - PresentApia, Upolu, SamoaAbstract/SynopsisLongitudinal cohort study of child health and development in Samoa now planning for its fourth wave of bi-annual data collection.
Links & Media
News
- March 27, 2024Source: ABC Pacific
A decade-long study of Samoan children is shaping our understanding of diabetes
- February 20, 2024Source: BNN
Alarming Rise in Childhood Obesity and Diabetes Uncovered in Samoa, Yale Study Finds
- February 06, 2024
Samoan children as young as six at risk of diabetes, Yale study shows
- October 02, 2023
“I fell in love with research”: How the Global Health Equity Scholars Consortium supercharged early careers