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Majors, Degrees & Programs

Steve Douglas, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Biology

  • B.S., Nutritional Sciences, University of Missouri; Doctoral Degree in Nutrition Sciences, Purdue University

Areas of Expertise:

As a translational nutritional physiologist, I’ve investigated the mechanisms by which nutrient consumption and family-based weight loss interventions influenced weight management and other aspects of ingestive behavior.

Teaching Style:
  • Facilitating interactive group discussions
  • Implementing hands-on activities with practical application
  • Leveraging technology to enhance students’ learning experience.
Publications:
  1. Griffiths LA, Douglas SM, Raynor HA. The role of structure in dietary approaches for the treatment of pediatric overweight and obesity: A critical review. Obesity Reviews. Sep;22(9):e13266, 2021
  2. Douglas SM, Hawkins GM, Berlin KS, Crouter SE, Epstein LH, Thomas JG, Raynor HA. Rationale and protocol for translating basic habituation research into family-based childhood obesity treatment: Families becoming healthy together study. Contemporary Clinical Trial. Nov:98:106153, 2020
  3. Grider HS, Douglas, SM, Raynor, HA. The influence of mindful eating and/or intuitive eating approaches on dietary intake: a systematic review. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Apr;121(4):709-727.e1, 2021
  4. Douglas SM, Gwin JA, Leidy HJ. Novel methodological considerations regarding the use of visual analog scale questionnaires to assess appetite control and satiety. Current Developments in Nutrition. 3(6):nzz061; 2019
  5. Leidy HJ, Hoertel JA, Douglas SM, Higgins KA, Shafer RS. A protein breakfast reduces daily intake, hunger, and prevents body fat gain in overweight ‘breakfast skipping’ adolescents; Obesity; Sept; 23(9):  1761-4; 2015
  6. Bauer LB, Reynolds LJ, Douglas SM, Kearney ML, Hoertel HA, Shafer RS, Thyfault JP, Leidy HJ. A pilot study examining the effects of consuming a high-protein vs. normal-protein breakfast on free-living glycemic control in overweight/obese ‘breakfast skipping’ adolescents; International Journal of Obesity; Sept; 39(9):  1421-4; 2015
  7. Douglas SM, Lasley TR, Leidy HJ.  Consuming beef vs. soy protein has little effect on appetite, satiety, and food intake in healthy adults; Journal of Nutrition; May; 145(5):  1010-6; 2015
  8. Ortinau JC, Hoertel HA, Douglas SM, Leidy HJ.  Effects of higher protein vs. higher fat snacks on appetite control, satiety, and eating initiation in healthy women.  Nutrition Journal; 13(97); 2014
  9. Ortinau LC, Culp JM, Hoertel HA, Douglas SM, Leidy HJ.  The effects of increased dietary protein in afternoon yogurt snacks on appetite control and eating initiation in healthy women.  Nutrition Journal; 12(71); 2013
  10. Leidy HJ, Ortinau LC, Douglas SM, Hoertel HA.  Benefits of a protein-rich breakfast on the appetitive, hormonal, and neural signals controlling energy intake regulation to combat obesity in late-adolescent females.  American Journal of Clinical Nutrition; 97(4):  677-88; 2013
  11. Douglas SM, Ortinau LC, Hoertel HA, Leidy HJ.  Low, moderate, or high protein yogurt snacks on appetite control and subsequent eating in healthy women.  Appetite; 60; 117-122; 2013
Research:
POSTER PRESENTATIONS
2018 American Society of Nutrition Annual Meeting, Boston, MA June 2018
Douglas SM, Byers A, Leidy HJ (2018). Effects of Breakfast Type and Habitual Breakfast Patterns on Morning Appetite and Satiety in Overweight Late Adolescent Girls
2017 May Conference, May 2017
Douglas SM, Gwin JA, Leidy HJ (2017). Effects of consuming protein beverages, varying in protein source, on appetite, satiety and energy intake
2017 Experimental Biology Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL April 2017
Douglas SM, Gwin JA, Leidy HJ (2017). Effects of consuming protein beverages, varying in protein source, on appetite, satiety and energy intake
2017 Interdepartmental Nutrition Program Day, October 2017
Douglas SM, Gwin JA, Leidy HJ (2017). Effects of consuming protein beverages, varying in protein source, on appetite, satiety and energy intake
2016 Health and Human Sciences Research Week, October 2016
Douglas SM, Gwin JA, Leidy HJ (2016). Effects of consuming protein beverages, varying in protein source, on appetite, satiety and energy intake
2014 Experimental Biology Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA April 2014
Douglas SM, Lasley TR, Ortinau LC, Shafer RS, Leidy HJ (2014). The consumption of one serving of beef vs. one serving of soy at lunch on appetite control, satiety, and subsequent energy intake:  A practical comparison.
2014 Life Sciences Week, University of Missouri, April 2014
Douglas SM, Lasley TR, Ortinau LC, Shafer RS, Leidy HJ (2014). The consumption of one serving of beef vs. one serving of soy at lunch on appetite control, satiety, and subsequent energy intake:  A practical comparison.
2012 Experimental Biology Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA April 2012
Douglas SM, Ortinau LC, Hoertel HA, Leidy HJ (2012). Low, moderate, or high protein yogurt snacks on appetite control and subsequent eating in healthy women
2012 Nutrition and Exercise Physiology Research Week, March 2012
Douglas SM, Ortinau LC, Hoertel HA, Leidy HJ (2012). Low, moderate, or high protein yogurt snacks on appetite control and subsequent eating in healthy women
ORAL PRESENTATIONS
2017 Experimental Biology Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL April 2017
Douglas SM, Gwin JA, Leidy HJ (2017). Novel methodological considerations regarding the use of visual analog scale questionnaires to assess appetite control and satiety
2014 Experimental Biology Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA April 2014
Douglas SM, Lasley TR, Ortinau LC, Shafer RS, Leidy HJ (2014). The consumption of beef vs. soy lunch meals on food cravings & cortico-limbic brain regions in healthy adults
2012 Experimental Biology Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA April 2012
Douglas SM, Ortinau LC, Hoertel HA, Leidy HJ (2012). Low, moderate, or high protein yogurt snacks on appetite control and subsequent eating in healthy women
Hobbies:

I love being active, especially with my family! Currently, I enjoy playing pickleball or disc golf whenever I can, but living on a hobby farm brings a lot of fun as well.

What Makes Teaching at Grace Special?:

Being able to discuss how our faith and scripture should frame how we view and serve others in the world is an amazing opportunity to equip students to glorify God for the rest of their lives.

What prior experience are you bringing into the role?

Outside of my research experiences listed above, I also worked at Winona IT for two years prior to transitioning here. I served many different roles there (e.g. project manager, data engineer, fractional Chief Data Officer, AI consultant, and data analyst).

What drew you to work at Grace?

Other faculty continued to praise how well faculty at Grace cared for their students and each other. This, combined with my wife’s and my desire to do more college ministry, drew us here.

What are you most looking forward to about your role?

I’m most looking for to ministering to college students and being able to discuss how our faith and scripture should frame how we view and serve others in the world.