Steven Kelder, PhD, MPH
Professor, Epidemiology, Human Genetics & Environmental Sciences
Beth Toby Grossman Distinguished Professorship in Spirituality and Healing
[email protected]
Dr. Kelder has more than 25 years of experience in design and evaluation of child and adolescent research, particularly interventions directed towards youth, schools, and parents. Recently, his emphasis is on interventions designed for promotion of physical activity, healthy eating, oral health, obesity prevention, e-cigarette prevention. Dr. Kelder is one of the lead investigators for CATCH, a research-based program that guides schools, families and children in the process of being healthy, reaching more than a million Texas children.
Dr. Kelder served with Center faculty member Dr. Bill Kohl on the IOM committee on Accelerating Progress in Obesity Prevention: Solving the Weight of the Nation. The committee published its report in 2012 in conjunction with the Emmy-nominated HBO documentary special on obesity in America, Weight of the Nation.
In 2014, Dr. Kelder, with Center Director Dr. Deanna Hoelscher and MPH graduate Duncan Van Dusen, initiated the CATCH Global Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit entity devoted to training and disseminating the CATCH portfolio of child health programs. To date, the CGF has raised over ten million dollars, with more than 85% of it going to direct service provision to preschools, K-8 schools, YMCA, Jewish community centers, and public Headstart centers.
Dr. Kelder also served with Center faculty members Dr. Cheryl Perry, Dr. MeLisa Creamer, and Dr. Melissa Harrell all of whom were senior scientific editors of the 2016 Surgeon General’s report on e-cigarettes. The report declares e-cigarette use among U.S. youth and young adults a major public health concern. As a result of working on the report, Dr. Kelder produced the CATCH My Breath program, which is being used in all 50 states.
Current Projects
CATCH Healthy Smiles
CATCH Healthy Smiles teaches students why toothbrushing, flossing, dentist visits, and healthy food and drink choice are important to oral health. Students will learn and practice the skills necessary to maintain healthy smiles.
CATCH (Coordinated Approach To Child Health)
CATCH is a research-based program designed to guide schools, families and children in healthy eating and physical activity.
CATCH My Breath
CATCH My Breath (CMB) is a middle school e-cigarette prevention program originally designed as a rapid response to the emerging teen vaping trends.
Recent Publications
Estimated Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in the Texas Pediatric Population, 2021.
(Messiah, S., Valerio-Shewmaker, M.A., DeSantis, S.M., Swartz, M.D., Yaseen, A., Brito, F.A., Kohl III, H.W., Kelder, S.H., Aguillard, K., Omega-Njemnobi, O.S. and Breaux, C., The Lancet, June 2021.)
Intention to Lose Weight and Use of Electronic Cigarettes Among Adolescents.
(Sanchez, R., Ranjit, N., Kelder, S. H., Gill, M., & Hoelscher, D. M. (2021). Preventive Medicine Reports, 101406.)
Multiple tobacco product use among cigarette smokers: a longitudinal examination of menthol and non-menthol smokers during young adulthood
Mantey, D., Harrell, M., Chen, B., Kelder, S. H., Perry, C., & Loukas, A. (2022). Tobacco control, 31(3), 411–415.
A Longitudinal Examination of Behavioral Transitions among Young Adult Menthol and Non-Menthol Cigarette Smokers Using a Three-State Markov Model.
(Mantey, D. S., Harrell, M. B., Chen, B., Kelder, S. H., Perry, C. L., & Loukas, A. (2020). Nicotine & Tobacco Research.)
Dissemination of CATCH My Breath, a middle school E-Cigarette prevention program
(Kelder, S. H., Mantey, D. S., Van Dusen, D., Vaughn, T., Bianco, M., & Springer, A. E. (2021). Dissemination of CATCH My Breath, a middle school E-Cigarette prevention program. Addictive Behaviors, 113, 106698.)
A middle school program to prevent e-cigarette use: A pilot study of "CATCH My Breath"
Kelder, S. H., Mantey, D. S., Van Dusen, D., Case, K., Haas, A., & Springer, A. E. (2020). Public health reports (Washington, D.C. : 1974), 135(2), 220–229.
Effect of media use on adolescent body weight.
Cha, E. M., Hoelscher, D. M., Ranjit, N., Chen, B., Gabriel, K. P., et al. (2018). Preventing chronic disease, 15.
E-cigarette use is associated with intentions to lose weight among high school students.
Mantey, D. S., Omega-Njemnobi, O., & Kelder, S. H. (2020). Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, 22(5), 838–842.
Impact of the Coordinated Approach to Child Health Early Childhood Program for Obesity Prevention among Preschool Children: The Texas Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration Study
Sharma, S. V., Vandewater, E., Chuang, R. J., Byrd-Williams, C., Kelder, S., et al. (2019). Childhood obesity (Print), 15(1), 1–13.
E-cigarette-specific symptoms of nicotine dependence among Texas adolescents.
Case, K. R., Mantey, D. S., Creamer, M. R., Harrell, M. B., Kelder, S. H., et al. (2018). Addictive behaviors, 84, 57–61.
School socioeconomic disparities in e-cigarette susceptibility and use among central Texas middle school students
Springer, A. E., Davis, C., Van Dusen, D., Grayless, M., Case, K. R., et al. (2018). Preventive medicine reports, 11, 105–108.
Dietary intake, attitudes toward healthy food, and dental pain in low-income youth.
Nicksic, N. E., Massie, A. W., Byrd-Williams, C. E., Kelder, S. H., Sharma, S. V., et al. (2018). JDR clinical and translational research, 3(3), 279–287.
Dietary intake, attitudes toward healthy food, and dental pain in low-income youth
Nicksic, N. E., Massie, A. W., Byrd-Williams, C. E., Kelder, S. H., Sharma, S. V., et al. (2018). JDR clinical and translational research, 3(3), 279–287.
The Effect of Prenatal Maternal Cigarette Smoking on Children's BMI Z-Score With SGA as a Mediator
Salahuddin, M., Pérez, A., Ranjit, N., Hoelscher, D. M., & Kelder, S. H. (2018). International journal of obesity (2005), 42(5), 1008–1018.
Real Time assessment of young adults' attitudes towards tobacco messages
Hébert, E. T., Vandewater, E. A., Businelle, M. S., Harrell, M. B., Kelder, S. H., et al. (2018). Tobacco regulatory science, 4(1), 644–655.
Predictors of Severe Obesity in Low-Income, Predominantly Hispanic/Latino Children: The Texas Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration Study
Salahuddin, M., Pérez, A., Ranjit, N., Kelder, S. H., Barlow, S. E., et al. (2017). Preventing Chronic Disease, 14, E141.
Exposure and engagement with tobacco- and e-cigarette-related social media
(Hébert ET, Case KR, Kelder SH, Delk J, Perry CL, Harrell MB; J Adolesc Health. 2017) Hébert, E. T., Case, K. R., Kelder, S. H., Delk, J., Perry, C. L., et al. (2017). The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine, 61(3), 371–377.
Efficacy of a Community- Versus Primary Care-Centered Program for Childhood Obesity: TX CORD RCT
Butte, N. F., Hoelscher, D. M., Barlow, S. E., Pont, S., Durand, C., et al. (2017). Obesity, 25(9), 1584-1593.
Efficacy of a Community- vs. Primary Care-Centered Program for Childhood Obesity: TX CORD RCT
Butte, N. F., Hoelscher, D. M., Barlow, S. E., Pont, S., Durand, C., et al. (2017). Obesity, 25(9), 1584-1593.
The associations of large-for-gestational-age and infant feeding practices with children's body mass index z-score trajectories: the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort
Salahuddin, M., Pérez, A., Ranjit, N., Hoelscher, D. M., & Kelder, S. H. (2017). Clinical obesity, 7(5), 307–315.
Feasibility and reliability of a mobile tool to evaluate exposure to tobacco product marketing and messages using ecological momentary assessment
Hébert, E. T., Vandewater, E. A., Businelle, M. S., Harrell, M. B., Kelder, S. H., et al. (2017). Addictive behaviors, 73, 105–110.
Subjective experiences at first use of cigarette, e-cigarettes, hookah, and cigar products among Texas adolescents
Mantey, D. S., Harrell, M. B., Case, K., Crook, B., Kelder, S. H., et al. (2017). Drug and alcohol dependence, 173, 10–16.
Defining Tobacco Regulatory Science competencies
(Wipfli HL, Berman M, Hanson K, Kelder S, Solis A, Villanti AC, Ribeiro CMP, Meissner HI, Anderson R.; Nicotine Tob Res.; 2016)
Cardiometabolic Risk Factors among Children and Adolescents with Severe Obesity in the United States, 1999-2012
(Li L, Pérez A, Wu LT, Ranjit N, Brown HS, Kelder SH; Child Obes.; 2016)
The utility of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) in systems-oriented obesity intervention projects: the selection of comparable study sites for a quasi-experimental intervention design--TX CORD
(Oluyomi AO, Byars A, Byrd-Williams C, Sharma SV, Durand C, Hoelscher DM, Butte NF, Kelder SH; Child Obesity; 2015)
Promoting teacher adoption of physical activity breaks in the classroom: Findings of the Central Texas CATCH Middle School Project
(Delk J, Springer, AE, Kelder, SH, Conklin, M; Journal of School Health, 2014)
Cigarette smoking topography among alternative school youth: Why African American youth smoke less but are at higher long-term risk
(Peters RJ, Kelder SH, Johnson RJ, Prokhorov AP, Meshack A, Jefferson T, Essien EJ ; Journal of Pscyhoactive Drugs , 2012)
Promoting physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption through a community-school partnership: The effects of Marathon Kids on low-income elementary school children in Texas
(Springer AE, Kelder SH, Ranjit N, Hochberg-Garrett H, Chow S, Delk J ; Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 2012)
Environmental characteristics and student physical activity in PE class: Findings from two large urban areas of Texas
(Skala K, Springer AE, Sharma SV, Hoelscher DM, Kelder SH ; Journal of Physical Activity and Health , 2012)
Associations of Physical Fitness and Academic Performance Among Schoolchildren
(Van Dusen DP, Kelder SH, Kohl, HW, Ranjit N, Perry CL; Journal of School Health, 2011)
A multiple risk factors model of the development of aggression among early adolescents from urban disadvantaged neighborhoods
(Kim S, Orpinas P, Kamphaus R, Kelder SH; School Psychology Quarterly , 2011)
Physical activity, television viewing, and the risk of obesity in students, Texas
(Perez A, Hoelscher DM, Springer AE, Brown HS, Barroso CS, Kelder SH, Castrucci B ; Preventing Chronic Disease , 2011)
From NIH to Texas schools: Policy impact of the Coordinated Approach To Child Health (CATCH) program in Texas
(Hoelscher DM, Springer AE, Menendez TH, Cribb PW, Kelder SH ; Journal of Physical Activity and Health , 2011)
Beliefs and perceived norms concerning smoking cessation program recruitment among African American teenage smokers: What appeals to youth and what turns them away
(Peters RJ, Meshack A, Kelder SH, Springer AE, Agurcia C. ; Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse , 2011)
Psychosocial factors influencing calcium intake and bone quality in middle-school girls
(Sharma SV, Hoelscher DM, Kelder SH, Diamond PM, Day RS, Hergenroeder A; Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 2011)
Recent News
Disease expert discusses ongoing pandemic and nearing school year
Dr. Steven H. Kelder recently answered several questions for Community Impact Newspaper regarding COVID-19; trends in cases statewide; and important considerations for parents, students and educators as the 2020-21 school year approaches.
New FDA flavor ban has vape shops, manufacturers breathing sigh of relief
Ty Marceaux took a puff from his electronic cigarette and pointed to a small corner of his Heights vape shop once teeming with vape cartridges offering sweet flavors such as mango, grape and pineapple. Earlier this month, the manager of the shop, Rock N’ Roll It, was forced to stop selling fruit- and candy-flavored nicotine cartridges under new Food and Drug Administration regulations aimed at curbing the rise of underaged vaping.
Study finds vaping prevention program significantly reduces use in middle school students
In response to the youth vaping crisis, experts at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) developed CATCH My Breath, a program to prevent electronic cigarette use among fifth – 12th grade students.
Lung Injuries from Vaping Top 2,600, But Fewer Cases Being Reported
The death of a 15-year-old in Texas marks the youngest fatality linked to the current outbreak of vaping-related lung injuries in the United States. This comes as new cases of e-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury (EVALI) are on the decline.
Researchers awarded $3.1 million to address vaping epidemic among youth
As e-cigarette use by young people reaches epidemic proportions, researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) have received a $3.1 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to conduct the first-ever assessment on the long-term results of a nationwide nicotine vaping prevention program for youth called CATCH My Breath.
Youth Vaping Epidemic Hits Austin Schools
In 2015, Juul burst onto the smoking scene with a lineup of sweet-flavored e-cigarettes small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. Sales skyrocketed, and in a few short years the company—which has expanded its corporate offices into Austin—became a billion-dollar brand with the most popular e-cigarette on the market.
More than 100 vaping-related illnesses confirmed in Texas
With more than 100 vaping-related illnesses confirmed statewide since April, Texas lawmakers on Tuesday mulled remedies that included limiting the flavors o...
More than 100 vaping-related illnesses confirmed in Texas
With more than 100 vaping-related illnesses confirmed statewide since April, Texas lawmakers on Tuesday mulled remedies that included limiting the flavors o...
Texas lawmakers open to state regulations, and perhaps taxes, on vaping and e-cigarettes
Regulations and perhaps even taxation could be coming for the e-cigarette industry in Texas when the Legislature convenes next in 2021. Those were among the themes when the state Senate Health and Human Services heard expert testimony Tuesday that linked vaping to a nationwide outbreak of cardiovascular disease and nearly four dozen deaths in recent months.
Trump administration plans to ban flavored e-cigarettes
The Trump administration announced Sept. 11 that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is readying to ban flavored electronic cigarettes from the market in light of cases of sickness and death related to the devices.
‘Catch My Breath’ campaign stops in Leander to warn of vaping dangers
With all the new cases of respiratory illnesses connected to vaping, parents want to know all there is to know about it. There was a special presentation as part of the national “Catch My Breath” campaign Tuesday night in Leander at the Running Brushy Middle School’s PTA meeting.
‘Catch My Breath’ campaign stops in Leander to warn of vaping dangers
With all the new cases of respiratory illnesses connected to vaping, parents want to know all there is to know about it. There was a special presentation as part of the national “Catch My Breath” campaign Tuesday night in Leander at the Running Brushy Middle School’s PTA meeting.
'CATCH My Breath' Teaches Vaping Dangers
Dr. Steven Kelder at UTHealth School of Public Health spoke with KXAN on the 'CATCH My Breath' program.
Texas could add tax on e-cigs and vape products to try to prevent minors from using them
A Houston-area legislator this week hopes to persuade Texas House colleagues to approve a 10% state retail excise tax on e-cigarette and vape tobacco products.
New bill would crack down on e-cigarette sales to Texas minors
A new bill filed in the Texas legislature aims to make it harder for minors to buy e-cigarettes. UTHealth professor, Steven Kelder, provides e-cigarette research to consider.
New bill would crack down on e-cigarette sales to Texas minors
A new bill filed in the Texas legislature aims to make it harder for minors to buy e-cigarettes. UTHealth professor, Steven Kelder, provides e-cigarette research to consider.
Vaping becoming epidemic among students
Dr. Steven Kelder spoke with Spectrum News Austin on the problematic spike of high school students vaping across the country, especially with one product called JUUL.
How System researchers are taking a multi-faceted approach to obesity
Researchers across the UT System are working hard to gain a clearer picture of what works best to encourage and support children and adults in overcoming obesity.
UTHealth experts take part in U.S. Surgeon General’s first youth e-cigarette report
Researchers from the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health were the senior scientific editors for the first-ever U.S. Surgeon General’s Report on E-Cigarette Use Among Youth and Young Adults, released today.
