Bobby Kyungbeom Cheon, Ph.D.

Dr. Cheon investigates how social and psychological factors influence appetite, eating behaviors, and risk for diet-related chronic diseases such as obesity. His research examines how socioeconomic disadvantage and food insecurity, particularly during childhood, shape food-related motivations, choices, and eating behaviors that may contribute to disparities in obesity and cardiometabolic health. Using complementary experimental, longitudinal, and population-based approaches, he seeks to (1) identify psychological processes that promote obesogenic eating behaviors, (2) understand which children are most vulnerable (or resilient) to developing obesity and cardiometabolic disease later in life, and (3) inform interventions and prevention strategies to reduce these health disparities.

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.