Bobby Kyungbeom Cheon, Ph.D.

Stadtman Investigator

Social and Behavioral Sciences Branch

NICHD/DIPHR

6710 Rockledge Dr. Wing B 3166
20892-7004

301-827-1857

bobby.cheon@nih.gov

Research Topics

Dr. Cheon's research investigates the health impacts of psychological experiences associated with disparities, such as discrimination, low perceived social status, and economic/resource insecurities. His work examines contributions of such psychosocial factors to eating behaviors, food preferences, and diet-related chronic diseases (e.g., obesity). His current initiatives seek to identify: 1) the mechanisms through which perceived socioeconomic disadvantage generates risk of excess energy intake among individuals and families; 2) the relative contribution of status-related threats (e.g., social rejection) to trajectories of obesity and metabolic disease; and 3) psychosocially based interventions that may buffer vulnerable individuals against harmful effects of perceived disadvantage and disparities.

Biography

Prior to joining NICHD, Dr. Cheon was an associate professor in the psychology department of Nanyang Technological University, in Singapore, and a principal investigator at the Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences within the Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR). Dr. Cheon received his bachelor’s degree in cognitive science from the University of Virginia and his Ph.D. in psychology from Northwestern University. He completed postdoctoral training at the Business School of Nanyang Technological University, focusing on inter-cultural and inter-group processes (e.g., cultural diversity, discrimination, and cooperation/competition).

Selected Publications

  1. Sum KK, Cai S, Law E, Cheon B, Tan G, Loo E, Lee YS, Yap F, Chan JKY, Daniel M, Chong YS, Meaney M, Eriksson J, Huang J. COVID-19-Related Life Experiences, Outdoor Play, and Long-term Adiposity Changes Among Preschool- and School-Aged Children in Singapore 1 Year After Lockdown. JAMA Pediatr. 2022;176(3):280-289.
  2. Chong MF, Lim HX, Wong BWX, Chi ZH, Inthujaa JK, Müller-Riemenschneider F, Cheon BK, Gorny AW, Chia KS. Transiting Out of Full-Time National Service: A Qualitative Study of Barriers and Motivators of Weight Change in Young Adult Men in Singapore. Am J Mens Health. 2022;16(2):15579883221074788.
  3. Chen L, Zheng T, Yang Y, Chaudhary PP, Teh JPY, Cheon BK, Moses D, Schuster SC, Schlundt J, Li J, Conway PL. Integrative multiomics analysis reveals host-microbe-metabolite interplays associated with the aging process in Singaporeans. Gut Microbes. 2022;14(1):2070392.

Related Scientific Focus Areas

This page was last updated on Friday, September 24, 2021