Sobal, Jeffery

Professor
I received an undergraduate degree in biology in 1972, focusing on population biology, ecology, and animal behavior. I completed a masters in sociology with an emphasis in social psychology in 1974, a doctorate in sociology in 1978 with an emphasis in urban sociology, and a masters in public health in 1983 with an emphasis on behavioral sciences, epidemiology, and nutrition. The focus of my work is on the social aspects of food, eating, and nutrition. I have taught undergraduate and graduate courses in the interdisciplinary area of social science analysis of food, eating, and nutrition since 1979. I first taught at Gettysburg College, then the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and currently teach in the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University. My research examines several aspects of social science nutrition, particularly social patterns of obesity (especially marriage and body weight), food choice processes, and food systems analysis. I attempt to bring to bear a variety of social science theories and methods to better understand food and nutrition.

research

research and scholarship focus

Marriage and Body Weight, Food Choice Processes, Food/Nutrition Systems

primary investigator of

submitted impact statement

related websites

DNS Home Page

affiliations

faculty appointment in

member of graduate field

other Cornell affiliations

administrative responsibilities

In 2007 at Cornell University I was a member of the Educational Policy Committee (EPC). In the College of Human Ecology I served on the Dean's Fellowship in the History of Home Economics Committee, was elected to the Mann Library Committee to represent the College of Human Ecology, and served on the College Summer Grants Committee. I chaired the small grants committee in the Division of Nutritional Sciences. I was on the admissions committee for the Field of Nutrition. I chaired the small grants committee in the Division of Nutritional Sciences. I was on the admissions committee for the Field of Nutrition.

teaching

teaches

recent courses taught

NS 245 - Social Science Perspectives on Food and Nutrition

NS 640 - Social Science Theories in Nutrition

NS 703 - Seminar in Nutritional Sciences

service

current professional activities

  • Board of Directors, Association for the Study of Food and Society (ASFS)

background

educational background

  • B.S., Biology, 1972
  • M.S., Sociology with an emphasis in social psychology, 1974
  • Ph.D., Sociology with an emphasis in urban sociology, 1978
  • M.S., Public health with an emphasis on behavioral sciences, epidemiology, and nutrition, 1983  

professional background

  • Faculty, Gettysburg College, then the University of Maryland School of Medicine
  • Faculty, Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University

publications

selected publications (listing in progress)

Bove, C.F., Sobal, J., Rauschenbach, B.S. Food choices among newly married couples: Convergence, conflict, individualism, and projects. Appetite 2003:40:25-41.

Sobal, J., Khan, L.K., Bisogni, C.A. A conceptual model of the food and nutrition system. Social Science and Medicine 1998;47(7):853-63.

Sobal, J., Rauschenbach, B., Frongillo, E.A. Marital status changes and body weight changes: A U.S. longitudinal analysis. Social Science and Medicine 2003:56(7):1543-1555.

Sobal, J., Nelson, M.K. Commensal eating patterns: A community study. Appetite 2003:41:181-190.

Sobal, J., Bisogni, C.A., Devine, C.M., and Jastran, M. A conceptual model of the food choice process over the life course. In: Shepherd, R. and Raats, M. (eds). The psychology of food choice. Cambridge MA: CABI Publishing. 2006. pp 1-18.

Sobal, J. and Maurer, D. (eds). Weighty Issues: Fatness and Thinness as Social Problems. Hawthorne, NY: Aldine de Gruytter. 1999.

Sobal, J. and Maurer, D. (eds). Interpreting Weight: Social Management of Fatness and Thinness. Hawthorne, NY: Aldine de Gruyter. 1999.

speaker at Cornell event

Keywords: commensality, food, nutrition, obesity, sociology