Dr. Rita D. DeBate

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University of South Florida
College of Public Health
Community and Family Health
Associate ProfessorAppointed: 2006

Mailing Address

University of South Florida
College of Public Health
13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, MDC 56
Tampa, Florida 33612
United States

Contact Information

Phone: (813) 974-6683
Fax: (813) 974-5172
rdebate@health.usf.edu

Qualifications

Ph.D., University of South Carolina, Public Health, 1995.
M.P.H., University of South Carolina, Public Health, 1992.
B.S., State University of New York at Geneseo, Psychology; minor; Sociology, 1985.

Keywords

COS Keywords:

Community Health, Eating Disorders, Obesity, Physical Therapy, Preventive Medicine, Public Health.

Additional Terms:

Eating Disorders Prevention Research, Obesity and Eating Disorders, Prevention and Evaluation Research.

Memberships

Academy of Eating Disorders
American Academy of Health Beahvior
American Public Health Association
CHES (Certified Health Education Specialist)
Eating Disorder Research Society
Florida Public Health Association
North Carolina Society of Public Health Educators
Society for Public Health Education
The Renfrew Center Resource Network
Virginia Public Health Association

Honors and Awards

2004, Abstract Chair, AMerican Academy of Health Behavior
2004, Permantent Tenure, UNC
2001, Junior Investigator Award, UNC
2000, Graduate Excellence in Teaching Award, UNC
1998, Excellence in Research Award, Armstrong Atlantic State University

Previous Positions

2006, Associate Professor, University of South Florida, Department of Community & Family Health
2004-2006, Associate Professor, Assistant Program Director, Old Dominion University, College of Health Sciences, Community Health Professions and Physical Therapy
1998-2004, Assistant/Associate Professor, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Department of Health Behavior and Administration
1995-1998, Assistant Professor, Armstrong Atlantic State University
1995, Assistant Instructor, University of South Carolina, Department of Health Promotion and Education
1992-1995, Instructor, University of South Carolina, Department of Health Promotion and Education

Funding Received

  • USF Interdisciplinary Initiative on Sustainable Community in the Humanities and Social Sciences: Linking work with Family Health: The importance of the family dinner, $142,497, 2007 to .
  • STTR: Web-based Training for Secondary Prevention of eating Disorders, $200,000, 2007 to 2008.
  • Old Dominion University: Increasing Behavioral Capacity Among Dental Practioners via a Web-based Secondary Prevention Toolkit, $17,000, 2005 to .
  • Old Dominion University: Assessment of Eating Disorder Secondary Prevebtion Curriculum in Dental and Dental Hygiene Schools, $3,000, 2005 to .
  • ODU Collaborative Research: Computer-Assisted Assesment of the Intra-Individual Variablity and Level of Real-Life Body Image Experiences, $20,000, 2005 to .
  • Mecklenburg County Health Department: Male Involvement Pregnancy Prevention Project: Impact Evaluation, $13,000, 2004 to .
  • National Institute of Dental and Cranial facial Research: Dental Practioners and eating Disorders Prevention, $64,000, 2004 to .
  • Girls on the Run International: Assessment of Self-esteem, eating behaviors, body-image and physical activity attitudes and behaviors among 3-5th grade girls, $14,000, 2004 to .
  • NIH: Project REST, $3,750, 2003 to .
  • Girls on the Run International: Formative Evaluation: Girls on the Run, $11,000, 2003 to .
  • Carolinas Healthcare System: Community Health Institute: Charlotte REACH 2010:Qualitative Assessment, $16,000, 2003 to .
  • National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research: Dental Practitioners and Eating Disorders, 2002 to 2006.
  • Carolinas Community Health Institute: IMAGES: Issues Most Adolescent Girls/ Guys encounter in Society, $8,110, 2002 to .
  • American Massage Therapy Association Foundation: The Effect of Chair Massage on Stress Perception Among Hospital Bedside Nurses, $3,900, 2002 to .
  • Girls on the Run International: Eating Attitudes and Body Image Among female Adolescent Athletes Participating in a Running Program, $10,000, 2002 to .
  • National Institute of Dental and Cranial Facial Research: Dental Practioners and Eating Disorders Prevention, $184,600, 2002 to .
  • WIC Gaston County Health Department: Formative Evaluation, $15,000, 2002 to .
  • UNC Charlotte Faculty Grant: Eating Disorders and Impact on Performance. Phase 1: An Assessment of Male and Female Triathletes, $4,964, 2001 to .
  • UNC Charlotte Junior Faculty Research Grant: Disordered Eating Patterns in Female Triathletes: A Theoretically Based exploration of its Causes, $5,998, 2001 to .
  • UNC Charlotte Academic Program Improvement Grant: Interdisciplinary Community Engagement and Service Learning, $15,400, 2001 to .
  • Carolinas Community Health Institute: IMAGES: Issues Most adolescent Girls/Guys Encounter in Society, $15,400, 2001 to .
  • SmartStart Gatson and Lincoln Counties: SmartStart Community Health and Family support Assessment, $237,702, 2000 to .
  • SmartStart: Readiness to learn Assessment, $98,000, 1999 to .
  • Smart Start of Gatson and Lincoln Counties: Assessment of Needs for Child Care: Partnership for Children of Lincoln and Gatson Counties, $9,800, 1999 to .
  • UNC Charlotte Summer Faculty: The Implementation and Evaluation of a University Demand Management Program: A Cost Effectiveness Analysis and Utilization of Services Review, $4,700, 1999 to .
  • Memorial Medical Center, Savannah, GA: Growing Healthy, $10,000, 1998 to .
  • Armstrong Atlantic State University: Extending Experiential Learning Through State of the Art Technology, $9,522, 1998 to .
  • Healthy Start Initiative: HealthyStart: Formative Evaluation, $20,000, 1998 to .
  • St.Joseph's Hospital: St.Joseph's Women's Center Evaluation, $15,000, 1998 to .
  • UNC Charlotte Faculty Research Grant: Assessment of Dental Practioners' Knowledge and Skill in the Identification, Treatment and Referral of Eating Disorders, $3,500, 1998 to .
  • Hilton Head Health Institute: Triggers to Binge Eating, $10,000, 1994 to .

Publications

  • DeBate, R.D., Plichta, S., Tedesco, L.A., Kerschbaum, W.E. (2008) Assessing Readiness and Capacity for Secondary Prevention of Eating Disorders among Dental Practioners, Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research, 33 (1)
  • DeBate, R.D., Shuman, D., Tedesco, L. (2007) Eating disorders and the oral health curricula, Journal of Dental Education, 71 (5), 655-663
  • DeBate, R.D., Zhang, Y., Thompson, S. (2007) Changes in motivation to participate in physical activity among 8-11 year old girls, american Journal of Health Education, 38 (5), 277-284
  • DeBate, R.D., Pyle, G.F. (2006) The Behavioral Ecological Model: A framework for early WIC participation, American Journal of Health Studies, 19 (3), 138-147
  • DeBate, R.D., Brennan, M.K. (2006) The effect of chair massage on stress perception of hospital bedside nurses, Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 10 (4), 335-342
  • DeBate, R.D., Vogel, E., Tedesco, L.A., Neff, J.A. (2006) Gender Differences Regarding Eating Disorder Specific Secondary Prevention among Dentists, Journal of American Dental Association, 137, 773-781
  • DeBate, R.D., Zhang, Y. (2006) Exploration of Social Cognitive Factors Associated with Physical Activity among Chinese-American Children: A cross-sectional study, International Journal of Health Education, 9, 108-121
  • DeBate, R.D., Tedesco, L.A. (2006) Increasing Dentists' Capacity for Secondary Prevention of Eating Disorders: Identification of Training, Network, and Professional Contingencies, Journal of Dental Education, 70, 1066-1075
  • DeBate, R.D., Thompson, S.H., Bailey, D. (2006) Gender differences in body dissatisfaction, weight management, and ideal female body size among low-income African-American children, LAHPERD, 70 (1), 15-21
  • Debate, R.D., Tedesco,L.A., Kerschbaum, W.E. (2005) Knowledge of Oral and Physical Manifestations of Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa Among Dentists and Dental Hygientists, Journal of Dental Education, 69, 346-354
  • DeBate, R.D., Thompson, S. (2005) Girls on the Run: Improvements in Self-esteem, Body Image, and Eating Attitudes/Behaviors, International Journal of Eating and Weight Disorders, 25-32
  • DeBate, R.D., Plescia, M. (2005) I Could Live Other Places, but This is Where I Want to Be: Support for Natural Helper Intiatives, International Quarterly of Community Health Education, 23 (4), 343-355
  • DeBate, R.D., Tedesco, L.A., Kerschbaum, W.E. (2005) Oral Health Practioners and Secondary Prevention of Eating Disorders: An Application of the Transtheoretical Model, Journal of Dental Hygiene, 79 (4), 10-101
  • DeBate, R.D., Davis, T. (2004) LEAP:Lifestyle Enhancement for African-American Women Population, Journal of Health Education & Behavior, 31 (6)
  • DeBate, R.D., Knollmeyer, M.K. (2004) The Effects of Chair Massage on the Stress Perception of Bedside Nurses, Massage Therapy Journal, 43 (1), 77-86
  • DeBate, R.D., Plescia,M., Joyner, D., Spann, L. (2004) A Qualtitative Assessment of Charlotte REACH: An Ecological Perspective for Decreasing CVD and Diabetes Among African-Americans, Ethnicity and Disease, 14, 77-82
  • DeBate, R.D., Thompson, S.H., Smith, P. (2004) Performance-Related Injuries and Exercise Orientation of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I, II, and III Female Collegiate Cross Country Runners, Women's Sport and Physical Activity Journal, 13 (2), 17-26
  • DeBate, R.D. (2003) The Scope of Public Health, Social Science and Medicine, 57 (8), 1527
  • DiGioacchino DeBate R, Wethington H, Sargent R, Body size dissatisfaction among male and female triathletes, Eating and Weight Disorders : Ewd, 7(4), 316-23, December 2002 Abstract
  • DiGioacchino DeBate R, Wethington H, Sargent R, Sub-clinical eating disorder characteristics among male and female triathletes, Eating and Weight Disorders : Ewd, 7(3), 210-20, September 2002 Abstract
  • DeBate, R.D., Wethington, H., Flowers, C., Turner, M. (2002) Eating Attitudes,Body Image, and Nutrient intake in Female Triathletes, Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal, 11 (2), 115-139
  • Debate RD, Topping M, Sargent RG, Racial and gender differences in weight status and dietary practices among college students, Adolescence, 36(144), 819-33, Winte 2001 Abstract
  • DeBate, R.D., Sargent, R.G., Topping, M. (2001) Body Dissatisfaction Among White and African-American College Students, Eating Behavior, 2, 39-50
  • DeBate, R.D. (2001) Community Worksite Wellness Website:Charlotte Area Worksite Health Promotion Resource Network, Health Education & Behavior, 28 (4), 398-399
  • DeBate, R.D., Topping, M., Sargent, R. (2001) Racial and Gender Differences in Weight Status and Dietary Practices Among College Students, ADOLESCENCE, 36 (144), 819-834
  • DeBate, R.D., Wethington, H., Sargent, R.G. (2001) Subclinical Eating Disorder Characteristics Among Male and Female Triathletes, International Journal of eating and Weight Disorders, 7 (3), 210-220
  • DeBate, R.D., Wethington, H., Sargent, R.G. (2001) Body Size Dissatisfaction Among Male and Female Triathletes, International Journal of Eating and Weight Disorders, 7 (4), 316-323
  • Sargent, R.G, DiGioacchino, R.F, Miller, P.M, Rankin, H.H, Sharpe, P.A, Hussey, J.R, Expanding the Criteria for Defining Success When Evaluating Weight Loss Intervention Programs, Eating Behaviors, 1, 137-144, 2000
  • DiGioacchino, R.F, Keenan, M.F, Sargent, R.G., Assessment of Dental Practitioners in the Secondary and Tertiary Prevention of Eating Disorders, Eating Behaviors, 1, 79-91, 2000
  • Gromel, K, Sargent, R.G, Watkins, J, Shoob, H.D, Miller, P, DiGioacchino, R.F, Malin, A, Measurements of Body Image in Clinical Weight Loss Participants With and Without Binge-Eating Traits, . Eating Behaviors, 1, 191-202, 2000
  • DeBate, R.D. (2000) Eating Disorders: A Reference Sourcebook, Social Science and Medicine, 50 (3), 447
  • DiGioacchino RF, Sargent RG, Sharpe PA, Miller P, Gender differences among those exhibiting characteristics of binge eating disorder, Eating and Weight Disorders : Ewd, 4(2), 76-80, June 1999 Abstract
  • DeBate, R.D., Sargent, R.G. (1999) Binge Eating and its Relationship to Multiple Weight Control Program Attendance and Alternative Methods of Weight Control, Journal of Eating and Weight Disorders, 3 (4), 173-178
  • DiGioacchino R, Sargent RG, Binge eating and its relationship to multiple weight control program attendance and alternative methods of weight control, Eating and Weight Disorders : Ewd, 3(4), 173-8, December 1998 Abstract
  • DiGioacchino, R.F, Sargent, R, Rankin, H.J, Sharpe, P, Miller, P, Hussey, J.R, Tavakoli,A.S, Factors Associated With Weight Change Among Clients of a Residential Weight Control Program Indicating Binge and Non-Binge Traits., Addictive Behaviors, 22(3), 293-303, 1997

Profile Details

Last Updated: 7/28/2008

COS Expertise ID #1165662
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