Barbara Sternfeld, PhD

Barbara Sternfeld, PhD Kaiser Permanente Division of Research
2000 Broadway
Oakland, CA 94612

(510) 891-3717 (phone)
barbara.sternfeld@kp.org

Barbara Sternfeld, PhD, is a senior research scientist at the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research. She has been with the Division of Research since 1985. Dr. Sternfeld’s training is in epidemiology and exercise science, and she has many years of experience with large, prospective cohort studies, specifically the CARDIA study (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults) and SWAN (Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation). Her most recent studies include Project ALIVE! (A Lifestyle Intervention Via E-Mail), a randomized trial of a diet and physical activity intervention (funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), and the NIH-funded On the Move, a validation study involving the development of a cell phone application for recording physical activities. In 1996, Dr. Sternfeld was awarded the Sport Science Award of the International Olympic Committee President for her paper on exercise and pregnancy outcome. She currently serves as a member of Kaiser Permanente’s Central Research Committee.

Current Position(s):

Research Scientist III, Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California

Primary Research Interests:

Physical activity epidemiology
Physical activity measurement
Exercise and women's health
Menopause
Physical activity and cancer
Body composition
Physical activity, physical function and aging
Promotion of physical activity

Related Web sites

On the Move

Diet and Activity Promotion among Older Working Adults

The goal of this study is to enhance ALIVE (A Lifestyle Intervention Via Email), which is an email-based diet and physical activity intervention program that was effective in a randomized trial among KP regional employees, to make it particularly relevant for older workers. The study will also test the enhanced program in a randomized trial among workers 55 to 65 and will evaluate its cost effectiveness.
Funder: National Institute on Aging
Principal Investigator: Sternfeld, Barbara

MsFLASH (Menopause Strategies: Finding Lasting Answers for Symptoms and Health), aka "MSI-FLASH"

This study will conduct randomized controlled trials of the efficacy of exercise, yoga, paced respiration, SSRIs and low-dose estrogens for treating menopausal symptoms.
Funder: National Institute on Aging
Principal Investigator: Sternfeld, Barbara

ALIVE (A Lifestyle Intervention Via Email) for Older Workers

This study aims to modify the ALIVE program to make it more relevant for workers ages 55 to 64, and to test the efficacy of the modified version in a randomized trial that also includes an evaluation of adding printed intervention materials to the messages delivered by email.
Funder: National Institute on Aging
Principal Investigator: Sternfeld, Barbara

Accuracy of Physical Activity Measures in Cancer Studies ("On the Move")

This study identifies and quantifies the measurement error associated with two self-administered physical activity (PA) questionnaires using a cell phone-based physical activity diary and accelerometry.
Funder: National Cancer Institute
Principal Investigator: Sternfeld, Barbara

Genetic Epidemiology of Ovarian Aging ("Genetics of Ovarian Aging" or "OVA")

This study examines the relationships between ovarian age, as reflected by the number of antral follicles, and specific genetic olymorphism that influence both initial oocyte pool and rate of oocyte depletion.
Funder: National Institute on Aging
Principal Investigator: Sternfeld, Barbara

E-mail-based Diet and Activity Promotion in Worksites (or "A Lifestyle Intervention Via Email" [ALIVE])

This study is a randomized trial to determine the efficacy of a cost-effective, four-month computerized diet and physical activity intervention program, delivered by e-mail, within the worksite environment.
Funder: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Principal Investigator: Sternfeld, Barbara

Sleep During Perimenopause in a Multi-ethnic Cohort (SWAN sub-study)

This study is a longitudinal analysis of the relations between quality of sleep and menopausal status and symptoms.
Funder: National Institute on Aging
Principal Investigator: Sternfeld, Barbara

Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN)

This study follows a large multi-ethnic sample of premenopausal women through the menopausal transition in order to investigate the influence of biological and social/cultural factors on age at menopause, symptoms of menopause and change in disease risk factor status.
Funder: National Institute on Aging
Principal Investigator: Sternfeld, Barbara

Kaiser Permanente Division of Research