Juna Hatta-Langedyk, a biology major and undergraduate student at Tufts University, has already made significant contributions to health research. She is the lead author of a study conducted at the Food is Medicine Institute, which revealed that increased consumption of ultra-processed foods correlates with poorer health outcomes, independent of their nutritional quality.
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In October, Hatta-Langedyk will present an abstract at the American Society of Clinical Oncology symposium, focusing on the NutriCare program's effects on anxiety, depression, and overall quality of life. Her dedication lies in helping children learn about and adopt healthier lifestyles.
Hatta-Langedyk's interest in nutrition began in elementary school and was further developed in high school through a club called Health Occupational Students of America. At Tufts, she became involved with the Kids in Nutrition group and the Laidlaw Scholars Program, where she has worked under Dariush Mozaffarian for about a year and a half.
The research project on ultra-processed foods aimed to examine if they are linked to health issues beyond established nutritional factors such as sugar and fat content. Hatta-Langedyk discussed the NOVA classification system for food processing and utilized the Food Compass score, which assesses 54 attributes, including added nutrients. The study found that ultra-processed foods were associated with a 4% increase in all-cause mortality, a correlation that remained after adjusting for the Food Compass score. Increased consumption was also linked to a higher prevalence of diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and lung disease. This work was featured in a special edition on ultra-processed foods in the American Journal of Public Health.
Working on the paper helped Hatta-Langedyk acquire new skills, particularly in coding, which she had not encountered before. She applied this knowledge in another project analyzing results from a medically tailored meal program for lung cancer patients.
As the lead director of Kids in Nutrition, Hatta-Langedyk coordinates activities at local elementary schools, teaching children about nutrition through engaging lessons about fruits, vegetables, and healthy habits. She aims to inspire enthusiasm for healthy eating among kids.
Last summer, she expanded her research experience by participating in a project in Australia at the George Institute for Global Health. There, she explored a produce prescription program for women with gestational diabetes, evaluating its impact on their experiences and outcomes. This opportunity provided insight into how similar health initiatives operate internationally.