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College of
Health Sciences

Kirstie M. Herb Neff, PhD
Staff scientist, Department of Population Health Sciences
Psychologist, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health
Henry Hood Center for Health Research Building
100 N. Academy Ave.   
Danville, PA 17822
570-214-3007
kmherbneff1@geisinger.edu
 

Kirstie M. Herb Neff, PhD

Kirstie Herb Neff is a scientist-practitioner and clinical health psychologist with research and clinical expertise in eating and weight-related concerns. Her research interests include biopsychosocial mechanisms associated with eating disorders and obesity, evidence-based care for these concerns, and dissemination and implementation science. Research and clinical data indicate that individuals at higher weights present with all types of eating disorders (including restrictive eating disorders). Her research aims to develop a better understanding of this inextricably linked relationship. She then uses this knowledge to develop, evaluate, disseminate, and implement treatments for adults with these concerns, with a focus on low-income and rural populations. At the core of her work, Dr. Herb Neff is driven to connect empirical findings with practical applications. Consistent with this focus, Dr. Herb Neff is involved in several projects that provide insight into mechanisms underlying eating and weight-related concerns as well as collaboration on pragmatic trials testing various intervention strategies in health care and community settings. Relatedly, the focus of current projects is investigating the role of food insecurity as a risk factor for eating disorders and obesity and how intervening on this social determinant of health may improve physical and mental health outcomes.  

Recent Publications

Herb Neff, K. M., Launis, K., Schuh, L. M., Creel, D. B. & Inman, M. M. (2024). Physical activity, fitness, and body composition after a five-year exercise counseling intervention. Translational Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine.  

Herb Neff, K. M., Buta, E., Fenn, L. M., Ramsey, C. M., Snow, J. L., Haskell, S., Brandt, C. A., & Masheb, R. M. (2023). Atypical anorexia versus weight loss alone in a national sample of U.S. Military Veterans: Disentangling the roles of weight suppression and cognitive concerns. International Journal of Eating Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.24116

Launis, K., Herb Neff, K. M., Schuh, L. M., Saules, K. K., Creel, D. B. & Inman, M. (2023). Long-term engagement in physical activity among bariatric surgery patients: Associations with treatment outcomes at 5-year follow up. Obesity Surgery, 33(2), 434-442. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-022-06425-x

Lowe, M. R., Singh, S. Apple, D. E., Mayer, L., Rosenbaum, M., Espel-Hyunh, H. Thomas, J. G., Herb Neff, K. M., & Fengqing, Z. (2022). Traditional versus developmental measures of weight suppression: Relationships with bulimic psychopathology. European Eating Disorders Review, 30(4), 412-425. https://doi.org/10.1002/erv.2903

Martens, K., Pester, B., Hecht, L., Herb Neff, K. M., Clark, S., Hamann, A., Carlin, A. M., & Miller-Matero, L. M. (2021). Adherence to postoperative appointments is associated with weight loss following bariatric surgery. Obesity Surgery. 31(12), 5494-5496. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-021-05717-y

Education

PhD in Clinical Psychology, Eastern Michigan University, 2019-2023 
MS in Clinical Psychology, Eastern Michigan University, 2017-2019 
BS in Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, 2011-2015
 
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