Teresa Fung
Professor, and Ruby Winslow Linn Endowed Professor, Nutrition Co-Chair, and Director of Didactic Program in Dietetics
Teresa Fung graduated from Cornell University with BS and MS degrees in nutrition and completed her dietetic internship at Yale-New Haven Hospital. Fung then stayed on as a clinical nutrition specialist (RD) working in a variety of nutrition specialties. After a few years, she moved to Boston for a dual Doctor of Science degree in nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health. Fung has been at Simmons since 2000 and teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses while maintaining a research collaboration at the Harvard School of Public Health, where she is an Adjunct Professor.
Fung is currently an Associate Editor for the Journal of Nutrition, a member of the Editorial Board for the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and a panelist for the U.S. News and World Reports Best Diet rankings. She has been appointed by the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Agriculture (USDA) to serve on the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (Committee). In this role, Fung and other committee members will review the current body of nutrition science on specific topics to develop a scientific report and science-based advice for HHS and USDA.
Fung believes in preparing students for a fast-paced and quick changing workplace. In that light, her teaching focuses on providing students with the most updated technical knowledge, skills for critical thinking, problem-solving, as well as locating and evaluating scientific information.
Education
- BS, MS, Nutrition, from Cornell University
- Dietetic Internship, Yale-New Haven Hospital
- ScD, Nutrition and Epidemiology, from Harvard University TH Chan School of Public Health
License/Certifications
- ScD, RD
Area of Expertise
- Nutritional Epidemiology
- Diet Assessment
- Development of non-communicable conditions (e.g. diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, obesity, fragility fractures, frailty)
Courses
- Nutrient Metabolism (NUTR 331)
- Dietetics Profession (NUTR 301)
- Nutritional Epidemiology (NUTR 460)
Research/Special Projects
Fung is interested in studying how diet influences the risk of developing major chronic diseases. Her research centers on various approaches to examining the entire diet as a whole and its association with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and obesity. This also includes evaluating whether adhering to current dietary recommendations does indeed lower the risk of developing chronic diseases. Fung collaborates with the Harvard School of Public Health on work that has been funded by the National Institutes of Health. Many of the results were published in premier medical and nutrition journals and Fung has given research presentations nationally and internationally.
Publications/Presentations
Selected Research Publications
Fung TT, Lee IM, Struijk E, Rodrigues-Artalejo F, Willett WC, Lopez-Garcia E. Physical activity and risk of frailty in U.S. women age 60 and older. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 55:273-280, 2023.
Millan KD, Poccia S, Fung TT. Information Seeking Behaviors, Attitudes, and Beliefs About Pregnancy-Related Nutrition and Supplementation: A Qualitative Study Among US Women. Nutrition and Health. 28:563-569. (Research with students)
Fung TT, Li Y, Bromage S, Bhupathiraju S, Batis C, Fawzi W, Holmes MD, Stampfer M, Hu FB, Deitchler M, Willett WC. A global diet quality index and risk of type 2 diabetes in U.S. women. The Journal of Nutrition Supplement, 151 (Supplement2): 168s-175s, 2021.
Fung TT, Struijk E, Rodriguez-Artalejo F, Hagan K, Hu FB, Lopez-Garcia E. Fruits and vegetables intake and risk of frailty in women aged 60 and older. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 112:1540-1546, 2020.
Fung TT, Mukamal KJ, Rimm EB, Meyer HE, Willett WC, Feskanich D. Alcohol consumption and risk of hip fractures in post-menopausal women and men aged 50 and older. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 110:691-700. 2019
Fung TT, Meyer HA, Willett WC, Feskanich D. Diet quality and risk of hip fractures in postmenopausal women and men age 50 and older Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 118:2269-2279. 2018
Du M, Li SH, Mitchell C, Fung TT. Associations between diet quality scores and risk of postmenopausal estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer: A systematic review. The Journal of Nutrition, 148: 100-108. 2018 (Research with students)
Professional Affiliations & Memberships
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, member
- American Society for Nutrition, member
Awards
- Toby Sloane Award for Student Centerness (2018)
- Elaine R. Monsen Memorial Award for Outstanding Research Literature from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (2022)
Teresa Fung in the News
Professor of Nutrition Weighs in on Ultra-Processed Foods
Professor Teresa Fung was quoted in two recent articles fact-checking claims on the harm of consuming vegetables and how to assess the safety of ultra-processed foods.
Professor of Nutrition Discusses Health Benefits of Turkey in The New York Times
Just in time for Thanksgiving, The New York Times published a feature on the nutritional benefits of consuming turkey, which quotes Professor of Nutrition Teresa Fung.
Dietetics Director Weighs In On Latest TikTok Diet Trend
Professor, and Ruby Winslow Linn Endowed Professor, Nutrition Co-Chair, and Director of Didactic Program in Dietetics Teresa Fung was quoted in the NBC News article, "How much protein do you need to eat each day? On TikTok, the answer always seems to be more".
De-Mystifying the Microbiome with Diet
Despite all the hype about probiotics and detoxifying “gut resets,” scientists still do not have a general consensus regarding what constitutes a healthy gut. Professor of Nutrition Teresa Fung spoke with The Boston Globe about correlations between a healthy microbiome and a healthy diet.
Simmons Nutrition Professor Discusses How to Make Salad Dressing Healthy
Health-conscious individuals gravitate toward greens, but they may be wary of the extra calories that salad dressing contains. “I don’t want people to worry about salad dressing to the point that they’re not eating the salad. Eat the salad,” Professor of Nutrition Teresa Fung told NBC’s Today.com.
Professor of Nutrition Teresa Fung Selected to Serve on Scientific Advisory Committee
Every March, National Nutrition Month encourages Americans to reflect on the importance and transformative potential of healthy eating and exercise. Published every five years and based on cutting-edge nutrition research, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) provides nutritional advice for...
Professor of Nutrition Teresa T. Fung Wins the Monsen Award
Professor of Nutrition and Director of the Didactic Program in Dietetics Teresa T. Fung, ScD, RDN has been recognized by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics for her outstanding research. She spoke with us about this honor, her current research...
Eating Well in the New Year: Advice from Professor Teresa Fung
We caught up with Professor Theresa Fung about how to eat well in 2022.
Shout-outs from Students and Alums
Jasmin Dieb ’24DIP Celebrates Nutrition as Portal to Healing, Family, and Love
To honor National Nutrition Month this March, we spoke with Jasmin Dieb ’24DIP, a certificate student in the Nutrition and Dietetics Internship Program. Dieb discussed her passion for nutrition and how food forms health, community, and love.
Heather Zeman '19MS Empowers People with Intuitive Eating and Sports Nutrition
Tell me about the kind of work that you do. I wear a few hats, which I love. My primary role is nutrition counseling at an interdisciplinary practice called Back Bay Health, where I empower athletes and active adults to...
Dietitian Dasha Agoulnik ’19DPD Wins Pitch Competition for Vegan Protein Powder
What made you choose to pursue your degree/major? I have always been interested in how our bodies work. I did my undergraduate degree in biology at UMass Amherst and thought I may be a doctor. I like understanding the biochemistry...