Surabhi Aggarwal, MHSc, MPH, RDN, LDN

Bio

Surabhi Aggarwal serves as the Program Manager for Eat Smart, Move More, Weigh Less and Eat Smart, Move More, Prevent Diabetes. Both programs are a collaborative effort of NC State University and the NC Division of Public Health (NC DPH). In this role she oversees all aspects of program implementation including any contracts with public and/or private clients to offer the programs to their constituents. Eat Smart, Move More, Weigh Less is a 15-week weight management program that uses strategies proven to work for weight loss and maintenance. Eat Smart, Move More, Prevent Diabetes is a 12-month, CDC-recognized diabetes prevention program. Both programs are delivered in an interactive, online format using synchronous distance technology allowing a live instructor to lead sessions in real-time.

Prior to assuming her current role in 2009, Surabhi served as a Worksite Wellness Specialist for the Physical Activity and Nutrition (PAN) Branch, NC DPH for five years. She was actively involved in researching, designing and writing of the NC HealthSmart Worksite Wellness Toolkit. The Toolkit promoted healthy eating, physical activity, tobacco cessation and stress management through individual, group, policy and environmental changes in worksites. She also conducted statewide Toolkit training workshops to help with the implementation of the NC HealthSmart Worksite Wellness Program and provided ongoing technical assistance and support to worksite wellness committees across the state.

Surabhi has also assisted the PAN Branch with technical writing assistance and programmatic guidance on a variety of projects and assignments. She provided support for the Healthy Weight Communications campaign and was actively involved in developing the Eat Smart, Move More, Go Green guide, the Fruits and Vegetables Challenge guide and the Eat Smart, Move More Snacks and Drinks guide. Surabhi joined the PAN Branch as a public health intern in Fall of 2004 and worked on special projects with the NC 5 A Day Program, African American Churches Eating Smart and Moving More and Winner’s Circle Healthy Dining Program. She completed her supervised dietetic internship at the Duke Health Raleigh Hospital in summer of 2004. Prior to getting married and coming to the United States in 2001, she was a counselor and slimming program manager at a weight loss clinic in her hometown in India. Surabhi graduated in December 2004 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Masters in Public Health (Nutrition). She also holds a master’s and a bachelor’s degree in Food Science and Nutrition from universities in India. In her time away from work, Surabhi is with her family and enjoys cooking, photography and traveling.

Programs and Initiatives

• Eat Smart, Move More, Weigh Less
• Eat Smart, Move More, Prevent Diabetes

Contributing Websites

• Eat Smart, Move More, Weigh Less
• Eat Smart, Move More, Prevent Diabetes
• Med Instead of Meds
• NC Prevents Diabetes
• Diabetes Free NC

Selected Publications

• Collins, C., McCallum, E., Nordby, K., Aggarwal, S., Griffith, E., Thomas, C., & Dunn, C. (2023). Enrollment, engagement, and effectiveness of a large-scale diabetes prevention program using synchronous distance technology. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202310.0720.v1
• Dunn C, Dada S, Whetstone LM, Thomas C, Aggarwal S, Nordby K, Thompson S, Meyer S. (2018). Mindful eating and weight loss, results from a randomized trial. Journal of Family Medicine and Community Health, 5(3):1152-1159: https://www.jscimedcentral.com/FamilyMedicine/familymedicine-5-1152.pdf. 
• Dunn, C., Haubenreiser, M., Johnson, M., Nordby, K., Aggarwal, S., Myer, S., & Thomas, C. (2018). Mindfulness approaches and weight loss, weight maintenance, and weight regain. Current Obesity Reports, 7(1), 37–49. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13679-018-0299-6 
• Dailey, R., Romo, L., Myer, S., Thomas, C., Aggarwal, S., Nordby, K., … Dunn, C. (2018). The Buddy Benefit: Increasing the Effectiveness of an Employee-Targeted Weight-Loss Program. Journal of Health Communication, 23(3), 272–280. https://doi.org/10.1080/10810730.2018.1436622
• Dunn C., Thomas C., Whetstone L., Aggarwal S … Johnson, M. (2017). Mindful eating and weight loss, results from a randomized trial. Obesity Facts, The European Journal of Obesity, 10(S1):192. https://www.jscimedcentral.com/FamilyMedicine/familymedicine-5-1152.pdf
• Thompson S, Dunn C, Aggarwal S, Tchwenko Sm Wang A, Rushing J, Thomas C, Nordby K, Allision C. (2016). Behaviors predictive of weight loss maintenance: Six-month follow up on an online weight management program. Obesity: Open Access, 2(3):doi http://dx.doi.org/10.16966/2380-5528.124. 
• Dunn, C., Olabode-Dada, O., Whetstone, L., Thomas, C., Aggarwal, S., Nordby, K., … Allison, C. (2016). Using synchronous distance education to deliver a weight loss intervention: A randomized trial. Obesity, 24(1), 44–50. https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.21315
• Johnson M, Dunn C, Thomas C, Aggarwal S, Nordby K, Thompson S, Myer S. (2015). Offering a free online program to maintain weight over the holiday season. Journal of Extension, 53(5). https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3589&context=joe
• Dunn, C., Whetstone, L. M., Kolasa, K. M., Jayaratne, K. S. U., Thomas, C., Aggarwal, S., … Riley, K. E. M. (2014). Using synchronous distance-education technology to deliver a weight management intervention. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 46(6), 602–609. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2014.06.001
• Dunn, C., Whetstone, L. M., Kolasa, K. M., Jayaratne, K. S. U., Thomas, C., Aggarwal, S., … Rogers, A. B. (2013). Delivering a behavior-change weight management program to teachers and state employees in North Carolina. American Journal of Health Promotion, 27(6), 378–383. https://doi.org/10.4278/ajhp.120221-quan-101
• Whetstone, L. M., Kolasa, K. M., Dunn, C., Jayaratne, K. S. U., Vodicka, S., Schneider, L., … Lackey, C. (2011). Effects of a behavior-based weight management program delivered through a state cooperative extension and local public health department network, North Carolina, 2008-2009. Preventing Chronic Disease, 8(4).

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Area(s) of Expertise

• Weight Management
• Health Promotion
• Worksite Wellness
• Behavior Change