Michael Long

Bachelor of Arts in Politics, Princeton University, 2002

Master of Public Health in Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, 2008

Doctor of Science in Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 2013

Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 2015

Dr. Long is the editor-in-chief of the Journal of School Health. They are working with the District of Columbia Department of Behavioral Health on school behavioral health service research and planning. Their departmental, school, and university service is focused on enhancing policies and structures to promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Dr. Long is an expert in research at the intersection of epidemiology and quantitative policy analysis with the goal of identifying cost-effective and politically feasible policy solutions to promote school and community health.

They serve as a cost-effectiveness methodologist on a broad range of interventional and simulation-based studies. Dr. Long is currently exploring two research areas: 1) use of administrative and Census microdata to address inequities in childhood nutrition program access, and 2) development of system dynamics simulation models to support policy and program planning in behavioral health and climate adaptation and nutrition security.   

Dr Long’s work is funded by among others the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the JPB Foundation, the National Eating Disorders Association, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Bainum Family Foundation, R2HC, the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation, the National Cancer Institute, the National Institutes of Health, and the National Science Foundation.

Google Scholar Citations

1. Dupuis R, Block JP, Barrett JL, Long MW, Petimar J, Ward ZJ, Kenney EL, Musicus AA, Cannuscio CC, Williams DR, Bleich SN. Cost-effectiveness of calorie labeling at large fast-food chains across the US. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2023 Aug 14.
2. Long MW, Ward ZJ, Wright DR, Rodriguez P, Tefft NW, Austin SB. Cost-Effectiveness of 5 Public Health Approaches to Prevent Eating Disorders. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2022;000(000):1−9.
3. Sedlander E*, Bingenheimer JB, Long MW, Swain M, Rimal RN. The g-NORM scale: Development and validation of a theory-based gender norms scale. Sex Roles. 2022 Sep 3:1-4.
4. Ward ZJ, Willett WC, Hu FB, Pacheco LS, Long MW, Gortmaker SL. Excess mortality associated with elevated body weight in the USA by state and demographic subgroup: A modelling study. EClinicalMedicine. 2022 Apr 28;48:101429.
5. Long MW, Hobson S, Douge J, Wagaman K, Sadlon R*, Price OA. Effectiveness and Cost-Benefit of an Elementary School-Based Telehealth Program. Journal of School Nursing. 2021 Dec 28:10598405211069911.
6. Kenney EL, Mozaffarian RS, Long MW, Barrett JL, Cradock AL, Giles CM, Ward ZJ, Gortmaker SL. Limiting television to reduce childhood obesity: cost-effectiveness of five population strategies. Childhood Obesity. 2021. May 10
7. Sedlander E*, Long MW, Bingenheimer JB, Rimal RN. Examining intentions to take iron supplements to inform a behavioral intervention: The Reduction in Anemia through Normative Innovations (RANI) Project. PLoS ONE. 2021;16(5):e0249646.
8. Abroms LC, Wu KC, Krishnan N, Long M, Belay S, Sherman S, McCarthy M. A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Text Messaging to Increase Tobacco Treatment Reach in the Emergency Department. Nicotine & Tobacco Research. 2021;ntab036.
9. Long MW, Marple K*, Andreyeva T. Universal Free Meals Associated with Lower Meal Costs While Maintaining Nutritional Quality. Nutrients. 2021; 13(2):670
10. Ward ZJ, Bleich SN, Long MW, Gortmaker SL. Association of body mass index with health care expenditures in the United States by age and sex. PLoS ONE. 2021;16(3): e0247307.
11. Rodriguez P*, Ward ZJ, Long MW, Austin SB, Wright DR. Applied Methods for Estimating Transition Probabilities from Electronic Health Record Data. Medical Decision Making. 2021;41(2):143-152.
12. Ballard E, Simpson A, Long MW#. Community Based System Dynamics for Mobilizing Communities to Advance School Health. Journal of School Health. 2020;90(12):964-975.
13. Chkhartishvili N, Berg CJ, Abroms LC, Sturua L, Chokoshvili O, Khechiashvili G, Tsertsvadze T, Ma Y, Rodriguez-Diaz C, Long MW, Paichadze N, & del Rio C. Smoking and cessation-related attitudes among men who have sex with men in the country of Georgia. AIDS Care. 2020. DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2020.1810619
14. Bleich SN, Long MW. Simple is better for local beverage tax policy diffusion. Circulation. 2020;142(6):535-537.
15. Sedlander E*, Long MW, Mohanty S, Munjral A, Bingenheimer JB, Yilma H, Rimal RN. Moving beyond individual barriers and identifying multi-level strategies to reduce anemia in Odisha India. BMC Public Health. 2020;20(1):1-6.
16. Long MW, Weber MR, Allan MJ, Ma Y, Jin Y, Aldous A, Elliot AJ, Burke H. Evaluation of a Pragmatic Trial of a Collaborative School-based Obesity Prevention Intervention in a Low-Income Urban District. Preventive Medicine. 2020;133:106020.
17. Ward ZJ, Bleich SN, Cradock AL, Barrett JL, Giles CM, Flax C, Long MW, Gortmaker SL. Projected US State-Level Prevalence of Adult Obesity and Severe Obesity. New England Journal of Medicine. 2019 Dec 19;381(25):2440-50.
18. Kenney EL, Cradock AL, Long MW, Barrett JL, Giles CM, Ward ZJ, Gortmaker SL. Cost-Effectiveness of Water Promotion Strategies in Schools for Preventing Childhood Obesity and Increasing Water Intake. Obesity. 2019;27:2037-2045.
19. Basto-Abreu A, Barrientos-Gutierrez T, Vidana-Perez D, Colchero MA, Hernandez-F M, Hernandez-Avila M, Ward ZJ, Long MW, Gortmaker SL. Cost-effectiveness of the sugar-sweetened beverage excise tax in Mexico. Health Affairs. 2019;38(11):1824-1831.
20. Ward ZJ, Rodriguez P*, Wright DR, Austin SB, Long MW#. Estimation of eating disorders prevalence by age and associations with mortality in a simulated nationally representative US cohort. JAMA Netw Open. 2019;2(10):e1912925.
21. Long MW, Polacsek M, Bruno P, Giles CM, Ward ZJ, Cradock AL, Gortmaker SL. Cost-effectiveness analysis and stakeholder evaluation of two obesity prevention policies in Maine, USA. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. 2019.
22. Pokorney P*, Chandran A, Long MW#. Impact of the Community Eligibility Provision on Meal Counts and Participation in Pennsylvania and Maryland National School Lunch Programs. Public Health Nutrition. 2019. 1-7. doi:10.1017/S1368980019002246
23. Daepp MIG, Gortmaker SL, Wang YC, Long MW, Kenney EL. WIC Food Package Changes: Trends in Childhood Obesity Prevalence. Pediatrics.2019;143(5):e20182841.
24. Sylvetsky AC, [et al., including Long MW]. From Biology to Behavior: A Cross-Disciplinary Seminar Series Surrounding Added Sugar and Low-calorie Sweetener Consumption. Obesity Science & Practice. 2019. https://doi.org/10.1002/osp4.334.
25. Swinburn BA, Kraak VI, [et al., including Long MW]. The global syndemic of obesity, undernutrition, and climate change: The Lancet Commission report. The Lancet.2019. Feb 23;393(10173):791-846.
26. Sanchez D*, Reiner JF*, Sadlon R*, Price OA, Long MW^#. Systematic review of school telehealth evaluations. Journal of School Nursing. 2019;35(1):61-76
27. Rifkin D*, Long MW, Perry MJ. Climate change and sleep: A systematic review of the literature and conceptual framework. Sleep Medicine Reviews. 2018;42:3-9
28. Long MW, Albright G, McMillan J, Shockley KM, Price OA. Enhancing educator engagement in school mental health care through digital simulation professional development. Journal of School Health. 2018; 88: 651-659.
29. Bray GA, Heisel WE, Afshin A, Jensen MD, Dietz WH, Long M, Kushner RF, Daniels SR, Wadden TA, Tsai AG, Hu FB. The science of obesity management: An Endocrine Society scientific statement. Endocrine reviews. 2018;39(2):79-132.
30. Ward ZJ, Long MW, Resch SC, Giles CM, Cradock AL, Gortmaker SL. Simulation of growth trajectories of childhood obesity into adulthood. New England Journal of Medicine. 2017. 377(22): p. 2145-2153.
31. Sharifi M. Franz C, Horan C, Giles CM, Long MW, Ward ZJ, Resch SC, Marshall R, Gortmaker SL, Taveras E. Cost-effectiveness of a clinical childhood obesity intervention. Pediatrics. 2017; 140(5):e20162998.
32. Brooks CJ, Gortmaker SL, Long MW, Cradock AL, Kenney EL. Racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in hydration status among US adults and the role of tap water and other beverage intake. American Journal of Public Health. 2017;107(9):1387-1394.
33. Cradock AL, Barrett JL, Kenney EL, Giles CM, Ward ZJ, Long MW, Resch SC, Pipito AA, Wei ER, Gortmaker SL. Using cost-effectiveness analysis to prioritize policy and programmatic approaches to physical activity promotion and obesity prevention in childhood. Preventive Medicine. 2017 Feb;95 Suppl:S17-S27.
34. Long MW, Ward ZJ, Resch SC, Cradock AL, Wang YC, Giles CM, Gortmaker SL. State-level estimates of childhood obesity prevalence in the United States corrected for report bias. International Journal of Obesity. 2016;40:1523-1528.
35. Long MW, Gortmaker SL, Patel AI, Onufrak SJ, Wilking CL, Cradock AL. Public perception of quality and support for required access to drinking water in schools and parks. American Journal of Health Promotion. Online October 3, 2016. doi:10.1177/0890117116671253. PMID: 27698227;
36. Blondin KJ, Giles CM, Cradock AL, Gortmaker SL, Long MW^#. US States' childhood obesity surveillance practices and recommendations for improving them, 2014-2015. Preventing Chronic Disease. 2016;13:160060.
37. Fung TT, Long MW, Hung P, Cheung LWY. An expanded model for mindful eating for health promotion and sustainability: issues and challenges for dietetic practice. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 2016;116(7):1081-1086.
38. Ward ZJ, Long MW, Resch SC, Gortmaker SL, Cradock AL, Giles C, Hsiao A, Wang YC. Redrawing the US obesity landscape: Bias-corrected estimates of state-specific adult obesity prevalence. PLoS ONE. 2016;11(3):e0150735.
39. Wang YC, Pamplin J, Long MW, Ward ZJ, Gortmaker SL, Andreyeva T. Severe obesity in adults cost state Medicaid programs nearly $8 billion in 2013. Health Affairs. November 2015; 34:1923-1931. PMID: 26526251
40. Gortmaker SL, Wang YC, Long MW, Giles CM, Ward ZJ, Barrett JL, Kenney EL, Sonneville KR, Afzal AS, Resch SC, Cradock AL. Three interventions that reduce childhood obesity are projected to save more than they cost to implement. Health Affairs. November 2015;34:1932-1939.
41. Kenney EL, Long MW, Cradock AL, Gortmaker SL. Prevalence of inadequate hydration among U.S. children and disparities by gender and race/ethnicity: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2009-2012. American Journal of Public Health. August 2015;105(8):e113-e118.
42. Leung CW, Ryan-Ibarra S, Linares A, Sugerman S, Long MW, Rimm EB, Willett WC. Support for Policies to Improve the Nutritional Impact of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in California. American Journal of Public Health. August 2015;105(8):1576-1580.
43. Long MW, Gortmaker SL, Ward ZJ, Resch SC, Moodie ML, Sacks G, Swinburn BA, Carter RC, Wang YC. Cost-effectiveness of a sugar-sweetened beverage excise tax in the United States. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. July 2015;49(1):112-123.
44. Gortmaker SL, Long MW, Resch SC, Ward ZJ, Cradock AL, Barrett JL, Wright DR, Sonneville KR, Giles C, Carter R, Moodie M, Sacks G, Swinburn B, Vine S, Barendregt J, Vos T.  Cost-effectiveness of childhood obesity interventions: Evidence and methods for CHOICES. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. July 2015;49(1):102-111.
45. Sonneville K, Long MW, Ward ZJ, Resch SC, Wang YC, Pomeranz JL, Graff S, Moodie ML, Carter RC, Sacks G, Swinburn BA, Gortmaker SL. BMI and healthcare cost impact of eliminating tax subsidy for advertising unhealthy food to youth. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. July 2015;49(1):124-134.
46. Wright D, Kenney EL, Giles CM, Long MW, Ward ZJ, Resch SC, Moodie ML, Carter RC, Wang YC, Sacks G, Swinburn BA, Gortmaker SL, Cradock AL. Modeling the cost effectiveness of child care policy changes in the U.S. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. July 2015;49(1):135-147.
47. Barrett JL, Gortmaker SL, Long MW, Ward ZJ, Moodie ML, Carter RC, Sacks G, Swinburn BA, Wang YC, Cradock AL. Cost-effectiveness of an elementary school active physical education policy. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. July 2015;49(1):148-159.
48. Long MW, Tobias DK, Cradock AL, Batchelder H, Gortmaker SL. Systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of restaurant menu calorie labeling. American Journal of Public Health. May 2015;105(5):e11-e24.
49. Sonneville KR, Long MW, Rifas-Shiman SL, Kleinman K, Gilman MW, Taveras EM. Juice and water intake in infancy and later beverage intake and adiposity: Could juice be a gateway drink? Obesity. 2015;23(1):170-6.
50. Long MW, Leung CW, Cheung LW, Blumenthal SJ, Willett WC. Public support for policies to improve the nutritional impact of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Public Health Nutrition. 2014 Jan;17(1):219-24..
51. Long MW, Sobol AM, Cradock AL, Subramanian SV, Blendon RJ, Gortmaker SL. School-day and overall physical activity among youth. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2013;45(2):150-157.
52. Long MW, Luedicke J, Dorsey M, Fiore SS, Henderson KE. Impact of Connecticut legislation incentivizing elimination of unhealthy competitive foods on National School Lunch Program participation.  American Journal of Public Health. 2013;103(7):e59-e66.
53. Andreyeva T, Luedicke J, Middleton AE, Long MW, Schwartz MB. Positive influence of the revised Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children Food packages on access to healthy foods.  Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 2012;112(6):850-858.
54. Schwartz MB, Henderson KE, Falbe J, Novak SA, Wharton C, Long MW, O’Connell ML, Fiore SS.  Strength and comprehensiveness of district school wellness policies predict implementation at the school level.  Journal of School Health. 2012;82(6):262-267.
55. Andreyeva T, Middleton AE, Long MW, Luedicke J, Schwartz MB. Food retailer practices, attitudes and beliefs about the supply of healthy foods. Public Health Nutrition. 2011;16:1-8.
56. Long MW, Henderson KE, Schwartz MB. Evaluating the impact of a Connecticut program to reduce availability of unhealthy competitive food in schools. Journal of School Health. 2010;80(10):478-486 .
57. Andreyeva T, Long MW, Henderson KE, Grode GM. Trying to lose weight: Diet strategies among Americans with overweight or obesity in 1996 to 2003. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 2010 Apr;110(4):535-42.
58. Andreyeva T, Long MW, Brownell KD. The impact of food prices on consumption: A systematic review of research on the price elasticity of demand for food. American Journal of Public Health. 2010 Feb;100(2):216-22.
59. Andreyeva T, Blumenthal DM, Schwartz MB, Long MW, Brownell KD. Availability and prices of foods across stores and neighborhoods: The case of New Haven, Connecticut. Health Affairs. 2008 Sep-Oct;27(5):1381-8.
60. Wharton CM, Long M, Schwartz M. Changing nutrition standards in schools: The emerging impact on school revenue. Journal of School Health. 2008;78(5):235-251.
61. Evans WD, Bingenheimer JB, Long M, Ndiaye K, Donati D, Rao NM, Akaba S, Hoglin B. Development and Evaluation of an Index to Measure the Ability to Get Vaccinated for COVID-19. Vaccines. 2023 Feb 3;11(2):342.
62. Napolitano MA, Bailey CP, Mavredes MN, Neighbors CJ, Whiteley JA, Long MW, Hayman LL, Malin SK, DiPietro L. Personalized versus generic digital weight loss interventions delivered on university campuses: a 6-month cost-benefit analysis. Translational Behavioral Medicine (2023)
63. Lee MM, Barrett JL, Kenney EL, Gouck J, Whetstone L, McCulloch S, Cradock AL, Long MW, Ward ZJ, Rohrer B, Williams DR. A sugar-sweetened beverage excise tax in California: Projected benefits for population obesity and health equity. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2023 Aug 6.

• Center for Health and Health Care in Schools
• Harvard School of Public Health Prevention Research Center
• Strategic Training Initiative for the Prevention of Eating Disorders (STRIPED) 
• Sumner M. Redstone Global Center for Prevention and Wellness 
• UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health