Jess Unick is a Professor (Research) in the Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior at the Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University and a Senior Research Scientist at The Miriam Hospital's Weight Control & Diabetes Research Center. She is an exercise physiologist by training and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in cardiovascular behavioral medicine. Broadly, Dr. Unick's research focuses on the development and testing of translatable interventions for weight loss and physical activity promotion. She also has interests in understanding the variability in response to behavioral programs, adapting interventions based upon treatment response, and understanding mechanisms through which exercise may influence eating behaviors and body weight. She has been awarded grants from the NIH and other organizations to conduct research in these areas. A full list of her grant funding can be found in the 'Research' section of her profile.
| Unick JL, Pellegrini CA, Dunsiger SI, Demos KE, Thomas JG, Bond DS, Webster J, Wing RR. "Characterization of early non-responders within behavioral weight loss treatment." Am J Hlth Behav, vol. 48, no. 1, 2024, pp. 1-8. |
| Grosicki GJ, Dhurandhar NV, Unick JL, Arent SM, Thomas JG, Lofton H, Shepherd MC, Kiel J, Coleman C, Jonnalagadda SS. "Sculpting Success: The Importance of Diet and Physical Activity to Support Skeletal Muscle Health during Weight Loss with New Generation Anti-Obesity Medications." Current developments in nutrition, vol. 8, no. 11, 2024, pp. 104486. |
| Unick, Jessica L., Dunsiger, Shira I., Bock, Beth C., Sherman, Sally A., Braun, Tosca D., Hayes, Jacqueline F., Goldstein, Stephanie P., Wing, Rena R. "A randomized trial examining the effect of yoga on dietary lapses and lapse triggers following behavioral weight loss treatment." Obesity Science & Practice, 2023. |
| Bohlen LC, LaRowe LR, Dunsiger SI, Dionne L, Griffin E, Kim AE, Marcus BH, Unick J, Wu WC, Williams DM. "Comparing a recommendation for self-paced versus moderate intensity physical activity for midlife adults: Rationale and design." Contemporary Clinical Trials, vol. 128, 2023, pp. 107169. |
| Williams DM, Bohlen LC, Dunsiger S, Ayala-Heredia V, Griffin E, Dionne L, Wilson-Barthes M, Unick J, LaRowe LR, Galárraga O. "Testing an insurance-based monetary incentive program for exercise: RCT design and rationale." Contemporary Clinical Trials, vol. 135, 2023, pp. 107382. |
| Unick JL, Dunsiger SI, Bock BC, Sherman SA, Braun TD, Wing RR. "A preliminary investigation of yoga as an intervention approach for improving long-term weight loss: A randomized trial." PLoS ONE, vol. 17, no. 2, 2022, pp. e0263405. |
| Hayes, Jacqueline F., Schumacher, Leah M., Panza, Emily, Dunsiger, Shira I., Wing, Rena R., Unick, Jessica L. "Affective responses to overeating episodes in women participating in a behavioral weight loss program." Eating Behaviors, vol. 44, 2022, pp. 101599. |
| Hayes, Jacqueline F., Wing, Rena R., Unick, Jessica L., Ross, Kathryn M. "Behaviors and psychological states associated with transitions from regaining to losing weight." Health Psychology, 2022. |
| Smith KE, Mason TB, Wang WL, Schumacher LM, Pellegrini CA, Goldschmidt AB, Unick JL. "Dynamic associations between anxiety, stress, physical activity, and eating regulation over the course of a behavioral weight loss intervention." Appetite, vol. 168, 2022, pp. 105706. |
| Braun, Tosca D., Olson, Kayloni, Panza, Emily, Lillis, Jason, Schumacher, Leah, Abrantes, Ana M., Kunicki, Zachary, Unick, Jessica L. "Internalized weight stigma in women with class III obesity: A randomized controlled trial of a virtual lifestyle modification intervention followed by a mindful self-compassion intervention." Obesity Science & Practice, vol. 8, no. 6, 2022, pp. 816-827. |
| Braun TD, Unick JL, Abrantes AM, Dalrymple K, Conboy LA, Schifano E, Park CL, Lazar SW. "Intuitive eating buffers the link between internalized weight stigma and body mass index in stressed adults." Appetite, vol. 169, 2022, pp. 105810. |
| Olson, KayLoni L., Goldstein, Stephanie P., Wing, Rena R., Williams, David M., Demos, Kathryn E., Unick, Jessica L. "Internalized weight bias is associated with perceived exertion and affect during exercise in a sample with higher body weight." Obesity Science & Practice, 2021. |
| Smith, Kathryn E., Mason, Tyler B., Schumacher, Leah M., Pellegrini, Christine A., Goldschmidt, Andrea B., Unick, Jessica L. "Momentary affective response to bouts of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity predicts changes in physical activity and sedentary behavior during behavioral weight loss." Psychology of Sport and Exercise, vol. 57, 2021, pp. 102056. |
| Smith KE, Mason TB, Schumacher LM, Pellegrini CA, Goldschmidt AB, Unick JL. "Momentary affective response to bouts of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity predicts changes in physical activity and sedentary behavior during behavioral weight loss." Psychology of Sport and Exercise, vol. 57, 2021. |
| Unick JL, Dunsiger SI, Leblond T, Hahn K, Thomas JG, Abrantes AM, Stroud LR, Wing RR. "Randomized Trial Examining the Effect of a 12-wk Exercise Program on Hedonic Eating." Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, vol. Publish Ahead of Print, no. 8, 2021, pp. 1638-1647. |
| Braun TD, Gorin AA, Puhl RM, Stone A, Quinn DM, Ferrand J, Abrantes AM, Unick J, Tishler D, Papasavas P. "Shame and Self-compassion as Risk and Protective Mechanisms of the Internalized Weight Bias and Emotional Eating Link in Individuals Seeking Bariatric Surgery." Obesity Surgery, vol. 31, no. 7, 2021, pp. 3177-3187. |
| Lillis J, Schumacher L, Thomas JG, Levin ME, Dunsiger S, Unick JL, Evans E, Hayes JF, Wing RR. "Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial comparing two low-intensity weight loss maintenance interventions based on acceptance and commitment therapy or self-regulation." Contemporary Clinical Trials, vol. 103, 2021, pp. 106327. |
| Smith KE, Haedt-Matt A, Mason TB, Wang S, Yang CH, Unick JL, Bond D, Goldschmidt AB. "Associations between naturalistically assessed physical activity patterns, affect, and eating in youth with overweight and obesity." Journal of Behavioral Medicine, vol. 43, no. 6, 2020, pp. 916-931. |
| Unick, Jessica L., Pellegrini, Christine A., Dunsiger, Shira I., Demos, Kathryn E., Thomas, J. Graham, Bond, Dale S., Webster, Jennifer, Wing, Rena R. "DIAL now protocol: A randomized trial examining the provision of phone coaching to those with sub-optimal early weight loss during an Internet weight management program." Contemporary Clinical Trials, vol. 90, 2020, pp. 105953. |
| Unick JL, Walkup MP, Miller ME, Apolzan JW, Brubaker PH, Coday M, Hill JO, Jakicic JM, Middelbeek RJW, West D, Wing RR, Look AHEAD Research Group. "Early Physical Activity Adoption Predicts Longer-Term Physical Activity Among Individuals Inactive at Baseline." Journal of physical activity & health, vol. 17, no. 12, 2020, pp. 1205-1212. |
| Pellegrini CA, Webster J, Hahn KR, Leblond TL, Unick JL. "Relationship between stress and weight management behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic among those enrolled in an internet program." Obesity science & practice, vol. 7, no. 1, 2020, pp. 129-134. |
| Pellegrini, Christine A., Webster, Jennifer, Hahn, Korina R., Leblond, Tiffany L., Unick, Jessica L. "Relationship between stress and weight management behaviors during the COVID‐19 pandemic among those enrolled in an internet program." Obesity Science & Practice, 2020. |
| Wing RR, Becofsky K, Wing EJ, McCaffery J, Boudreau M, Evans EW, Unick J. "Behavioral and Cardiovascular Effects of a Behavioral Weight Loss Program for People Living with HIV." AIDS and Behavior, 2019. |
| Wadden TA, Chao AM, Bahnson JL, Bantle JP, Clark JM, Gaussoin SA, Jakicic JM, Johnson KC, Miller GD, Unick JL, Yanovski SZ, the Look AHEAD Research Group. "End-of-Trial Health Outcomes in Look AHEAD Participants who Elected to have Bariatric Surgery." Obesity, vol. 27, no. 4, 2019, pp. 581-590. |
| Unick JL, Ross KM, Wing RR. "Factors associated with early non-response within an Internet-based behavioural weight loss program." Obesity science & practice, vol. 5, no. 4, 2019, pp. 324-332. |
| Olson KL, Neiberg RH, Tate DF, Garcia KR, Gorin AA, Lewis CE, Unick J, Wing RR. "Weight and Shape Concern Impacts Weight Gain Prevention in the SNAP Trial: Implications for Tailoring Intervention Delivery." Obesity, vol. 26, no. 8, 2018, pp. 1270-1276. |
| Bond, Dale S., Raynor, Hollie A., Thomas, J. Graham, Unick, Jessica, Webster, Jennifer, Ryder, Beth, Vithiananthan, Sivamainthan. "Greater Adherence to Recommended Morning Physical Activity is Associated With Greater Total Intervention-Related Physical Activity Changes in Bariatric Surgery Patients." Journal of Physical Activity and Health, vol. 14, no. 6, 2017, pp. 492-498. |
| Unick, Jessica L., Pellegrini, Christine A., Demos, Kathryn E., Dorfman, Leah. "Initial Weight Loss Response as an Indicator for Providing Early Rescue Efforts to Improve Long-term Treatment Outcomes." Current Diabetes Reports, vol. 17, no. 9, 2017. |
| Bond DS, Thomas JG, Vithiananthan S, Unick J, Webster J, Roye GD, Ryder BA, Sax HC. "Intervention-related increases in preoperative physical activity are maintained 6-months after Bariatric surgery: results from the bari-active trial." International Journal of Obesity, vol. 41, no. 3, 2017, pp. 467-470. |
| Unick, Jessica L., Lang, Wei, Tate, Deborah F., Bond, Dale S., Espeland, Mark A., Wing, Rena R. "Objective Estimates of Physical Activity and Sedentary Time among Young Adults." Journal of Obesity, vol. 2017, 2017, pp. 1-11. |
| Unick, Jessica L., Gaussoin, Sarah A., Hill, James O., Jakicic, John M., Bond, Dale S., Hellgren, Margareta, Johnson, Karen C., Peters, Anne L., Coday, Mace, Kitzman, Dalane W., Bossart, Suzette, Wing, Rena R., None, None. "Objectively Assessed Physical Activity and Weight Loss Maintenance among Individuals Enrolled in a Lifestyle Intervention." Obesity, vol. 25, no. 11, 2017, pp. 1903-1909. |
| Unick, Jessica L., None, None, Lang, Wei, Williams, Samantha E., Bond, Dale S., Egan, Caitlin M., Espeland, Mark A., Wing, Rena R., Tate, Deborah F. "Objectively-assessed physical activity and weight change in young adults: a randomized controlled trial." International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, vol. 14, no. 1, 2017, pp. 165. |
| Unick JL, Dorfman L, Leahey TM, Wing RR. "A preliminary investigation into whether early intervention can improve weight loss among those initially non-responsive to an internet-based behavioral program." J Behav Med, vol. 39, no. 2, 2016, pp. 254-61. |
| Lillis, Jason, Niemeier, Heather M., Thomas, J. Graham, Unick, Jessica, Ross, Kathryn M., Leahey, Tricia M., Kendra, Kathleen E., Dorfman, Leah, Wing, Rena R. "A randomized trial of an acceptance-based behavioral intervention for weight loss in people with high internal disinhibition." Obesity, vol. 24, no. 12, 2016, pp. 2509-2514. |
| Action for Health in Diabetes (Look AHEAD) Study Group. "Association of Weight Loss Maintenance and Weight Regain on 4-Year Changes in CVD Risk Factors: the Action for Health in Diabetes (Look AHEAD) Clinical Trial." Diabetes Care, vol. 39, no. 8, 2016, pp. 1345-55. |
| Bond DS, Graham Thomas J, Vithiananthan S, Webster J, Unick J, Ryder BA, Pohl D. "Changes in enjoyment, self-efficacy, and motivation during a randomized trial to promote habitual physical activity adoption in bariatric surgery patients." Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases, vol. 12, no. 5, 2016, pp. 1072-9. |
| Unick JL, Gaussoin SA, Hill JO, Jakicic JM, Bond DS, Hellgren M, Johnson KC, Peters AL, Coday M, Kitzman DW, Bossart S, Wing RR. "Four-Year Physical Activity Levels among Intervention Participants with Type 2 Diabetes." Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, vol. 48, no. 12, 2016, pp. 2437-2445. |
| Bond DS, Vithiananthan S, Thomas JG, Trautvetter J, Unick JL, Jakicic JM, Pohl D, Ryder BA, Roye GD, Sax HC, Wing RR. "Bari-Active: a randomized controlled trial of a preoperative intervention to increase physical activity in bariatric surgery patients." Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases, vol. 11, no. 1, 2015, pp. 169-77. |
| Unick JL, O'Leary KC, Dorfman L, Thomas JG, Strohacker K, Wing RR. "Consistency in compensatory eating responses following acute exercise in inactive, overweight and obese women." British Journal of Nutrition, vol. 113, no. 7, 2015, pp. 1170-7. |
| Unick, Jessica L., Strohacker, Kelley, Papandonatos, George D., Williams, David, O’Leary, Kevin C., Dorfman, Leah, Becofsky, Katie, Wing, Rena R. "Examination of the Consistency in Affective Response to Acute Exercise in Overweight and Obese Women." JSEP, vol. 37, no. 5, 2015, pp. 534-46. |
| Unick JL, Leahey T, Kent K, Wing RR. "Examination of whether early weight loss predicts 1-year weight loss among those enrolled in an Internet-based weight loss program." International Journal of Obesity, vol. 39, no. 10, 2015, pp. 1558-60. |
| Bond, Dale S., Thomas, J. Graham, King, Wendy C., Vithiananthan, Sivamainthan, Trautvetter, Jennifer, Unick, Jessica L., Ryder, Beth A., Pohl, Dieter, Roye, G. Dean, Sax, Harry C., Wing, Rena R. "Exercise improves quality of life in bariatric surgery candidates: Results from theBari-Activetrial." Obesity, vol. 23, no. 3, 2015, pp. 536-542. |
| Unick JL, Neiberg RH, Hogan PE, Cheskin LJ, Dutton GR, Jeffery R, Nelson JA, Pi-Sunyer X, West DS, Wing RR, Look AHEAD Research Group. "Weight change in the first 2 months of a lifestyle intervention predicts weight changes 8 years later." Obesity, vol. 23, no. 7, 2015, pp. 1353-6. |
| Lillis J, Niemeier HM, Ross KM, Thomas JG, Leahey T, Unick J, Kendra KE, Wing RR. "Weight loss intervention for individuals with high internal disinhibition: design of the Acceptance Based Behavioral Intervention (ABBI) randomized controlled trial." BMC psychology, vol. 3, no. 1, 2015, pp. 17. |
| Leahey TM, Xu X, Unick JL, Wing RR. "A preliminary investigation of the role of self-control in behavioral weight loss treatment." Obesity Research & Clinical Practice, vol. 8, no. 2, 2014, pp. e149-53. |
| Unick JL, Hogan PE, Neiberg RH, Cheskin LJ, Dutton GR, Evans-Hudnall G, Jeffery R, Kitabchi AE, Nelson JA, Pi-Sunyer FX, West DS, Wing RR, Look AHEAD Research Group. "Evaluation of early weight loss thresholds for identifying nonresponders to an intensive lifestyle intervention." Obesity, vol. 22, no. 7, 2014, pp. 1608-16. |
| Peter I, Papandonatos GD, Belalcazar LM, Yang Y, Erar B, Jakicic JM, Unick JL, Balasubramanyam A, Lipkin EW, Delahanty LM, Wagenknecht LE, Wing RR, McCaffery JM, Huggins GS, Look AHEAD Research Group. "Genetic modifiers of cardiorespiratory fitness response to lifestyle intervention." Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, vol. 46, no. 2, 2014, pp. 302-11. |
| Unick JL, Gaussoin S, Bahnson J, Crow R, Curtis J, Killean T, Regensteiner JG, Stewart KJ, Wing RR, Jakicic JM, The Look AHEAD Research Group. "Validity of Ratings of Perceived Exertion in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes." Journal of novel physiotherapy and physical rehabilitation, vol. 1, no. 1, 2014. |
| Bond, Dale S., Thomas, J. Graham, Unick, Jessica L., Raynor, Hollie A., Vithiananthan, Sivamainthan, Wing, Rena R. "Self-reported and objectively measured sedentary behavior in bariatric surgery candidates." Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases, vol. 9, no. 1, 2013, pp. 123-128. |
| Unick JL, Beavers D, Bond DS, Clark JM, Jakicic JM, Kitabchi AE, Knowler WC, Wadden TA, Wagenknecht LE, Wing RR, Look AHEAD Research Group. "The Long-term Effectiveness of a Lifestyle Intervention in Severely Obese Individuals." The American Journal of Medicine, vol. 126, no. 3, 2013, pp. 236-42, 242.e1-2. |
| Unick JL, Michael JC, Jakicic JM. "Affective responses to exercise in overweight women: Initial insight and possible influence on energy intake." Psychology of Sport and Exercise, vol. 13, no. 5, 2012, pp. 528-532. |
| Unick JL, Bond DS, Jakicic JM, Vithiananthan S, Ryder BA, Roye GD, Pohl D, Trautvetter J, Wing RR. "Comparison of two objective monitors for assessing physical activity and sedentary behaviors in bariatric surgery patients." Obesity Surgery, vol. 22, no. 3, 2012, pp. 347-52. |
| Bond DS, Unick JL, Jakicic JM, Vithiananthan S, Trautvetter J, O'Leary KC, Wing RR. "Physical activity and quality of life in severely obese individuals seeking bariatric surgery or lifestyle intervention." Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, vol. 10, no. 1, 2012, pp. 86. |
| Unick JL, O'Leary KC, Bond DS, Wing RR. "Physical activity enhancement to a behavioral weight loss program for severely obese individuals: A preliminary investigation." ISRN Obesity, vol. 2012, 2012, pp. 1-4. |
| Unick JL, Beavers D, Jakicic JM, Kitabchi AE, Knowler WC, Wadden TA, Wing RR, Look AHEAD Research Group. "Effectiveness of lifestyle interventions for individuals with severe obesity and type 2 diabetes: results from the Look AHEAD trial." Diabetes Care, vol. 34, no. 10, 2011, pp. 2152-7. |
| Unick JL, Otto AD, Goodpaster BH, Helsel DL, Pellegrini CA, Jakicic JM. "Acute effect of walking on energy intake in overweight/obese women." Appetite, vol. 55, no. 3, 2010, pp. 413-9. |
| Unick JL, Jakicic JM, Marcus BH. "Contribution of behavior intervention components to 24-month weight loss." Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, vol. 42, no. 4, 2010, pp. 745-53. |
| Bond, Dale S., Unick, Jessica L., Jakicic, John M., Vithiananthan, Sivamainthan, Pohl, Dieter, Roye, G. Dean, Ryder, Beth A., Sax, Harry C., Giovanni, Jeannine, Wing, Rena R. "Objective assessment of time spent being sedentary in bariatric surgery candidates." Obesity Surgery, vol. 21, no. 6, 2010, pp. 811-4. |
| Bond, Dale S., Jakicic, John M., Unick, Jessica L., Vithiananthan, Sivamainthan, Pohl, Dieter, Roye, G. Dean, Ryder, Beth A., Sax, Harry C., Wing, Rena R. "Pre- to postoperative physical activity changes in bariatric surgery patients: self report vs. objective measures." Obesity, vol. 18, no. 12, 2010, pp. 2395-7. |
| Nieman DC, Lasasso H, Austin MD, Pearce S, McInnis T, Unick J. "Validation of Cosmed's FitMate in measuring exercise metabolism." Research in sports medicine (Print), vol. 15, no. 1, 2007, pp. 67-75. |
| Unick JL, Utter AC, Schumm S, McInnis T. "Evaluation of leg-to-leg BIA in assessing body composition in high-school-aged males and females." Research in sports medicine (Print), vol. 14, no. 4, 2006, pp. 301-13. |
| Nieman DC, Austin MD, Benezra L, Pearce S, McInnis T, Unick J, Gross SJ. "Validation of Cosmed's FitMate in measuring oxygen consumption and estimating resting metabolic rate." Research in sports medicine (Print), vol. 14, no. 2, 2006, pp. 89-96. |
| Unick J, Kieffer HS, Cheesman W, Feeney A. "The acute effects of static and ballistic stretching on vertical jump performance in trained women." Journal of strength and conditioning research, vol. 19, no. 1, 2005, pp. 206-12. |
Principal Investigator Grant Funding
R01AG088083 Unick & Pellegrini (MPI) 8/15/24-7/31/29 NIH (NIA)
Title: Optimizing a remote-based physical activity intervention for adults with total knee replacement
R01DK137759-01A1 Unick (PI) 8/1/24 – 5/31/29 NIH (NIDDK)
Title: Comparison of behaviorally-based remote approaches to optimize weight loss and identification of factors which characterize treatment response.
R01AT011868-01A1 Unick (PI) 7/3/23 – 6/30/28 NIH (NCCIH)
Title: A remote-based yoga intervention for improving long-term weight loss
Unnumbered Unick (PI) 5/1/22-2/26/24 Legoretta Cancer Center
Title: Feasibility and acceptability of a highly translatable web-based intervention for increasing physical activity among cancer survivors
R01 DK117783-01 Unick (PI) 9/18/18 – 9/30/23 NIH (NIDDK)
Title: Phone coaching as a rescue strategy for early non-responders enrolled in an Internet-delivered weight loss program.
R03 DK115978-01A1 Unick (PI) 9/1/18 – 8/31/20 NIH (NIDDK)
Title: Examination of the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of yoga as an intervention approach to improving long-term weight loss
U54GM115677 Demos, Unick, Williams (MPIs) 5/30/18 – 5/19/19 Brown University's Advance-CTR Pilot Projects Program
Title: Memory Bias of Affective Responses to Physical Activity: A Novel Intervention Target for Increasing Physical Activity
K01 DK100498 01A1 Unick (PI) 7/1/14 – 3/31/19 NIH (NIDDK)
Title: Exercise as a buffer against stress-induced eating
R03 CA162965-01A1 Unick (PI) 05/2012 - 07/2014 NIH (NCI)
Title: Consistency in Individual Differences in Energy Intake Following Acute Exercise
A list of my publications can be found here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/jessica.unick.1/bibliography/public/
| Year | Degree | Institution |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | PhD | University of Pittsburgh |
| 2006 | MS | Appalachian State University |
| 2004 | BA | Messiah College |
| Postdoctoral Fellow | The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, The Miriam Hospital, Cardiovascular Behavioral Medicine | 2009-2011 | Providence, RI, USA |
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Demos, Kathryn | Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior |
| Goldstein, Stephanie | Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior (Research) |
| Hayes, Jacqueline | Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior (Research) |
| Lillis, Jason | Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior (Research) |
| Thomas, Graham | Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior (Research) |
| Williams, David | Professor of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Associate Dean of School of Public Health |
| Wing, Rena | Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior |
