Ashley Yamanaka, PhD, MPH
Associate Member, Population Sciences in the Pacific Program (Cancer Epidemiology), University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center
Academic Appointment(s):
Assistant Researcher, Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Degree(s):
PhD (Epidemiology), University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
MPH (Epidemiology), University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Research Focus
Dr. Yamanaka's research focuses on nutritional epidemiology and the relationships between diet, physical activity, and chronic disease in Pacific populations. She brings a strong foundation in epidemiologic methods and complex data analysis, with much of her career dedicated to understanding obesity and metabolic health in children across the US-affiliated Pacific region.
Her current research interest centers on how obesity risk in childhood and across the lifespan may contribute to cancer risk later in life. She is particularly interested in leveraging existing datasets to uncover these patterns and translate findings into meaningful public health interventions for Pacific communities.
Selected Publications
Wilkens LR, Dela Cruz RD, Yamanaka AB, Hammond K, Shvetsov YB, Aflague T, Butel J, Coleman P, Fleming T, Shallcross L, Fialkowski MK, Ing C, Franck K, Esquivel M, & Novotny R. (2026). Framework for Identifying Signature Foods for Health in the Children’s Healthy Living Program in the US Affiliated Pacific Region: Signature Foods Framework. The Journal of Nutrition, 101466.
Shvetsov YB, Yamanaka AB, Cruz RD, Butel J, Hammond K, Aflague TF, Coleman P, Shallcross L, Fleming T, Fialkowski MK, Wilkens LR, Novotny R. (2025) Two a priori dietary indices among young children in the Children’s Healthy Living (CHL) Trial: validation and association with health outcomes. The Journal of Nutrition.
Dumuid D, Yamanaka AB, Chong KH, Okely AD, Wilkens LR, Shvetsov YB, Lozano CP, & Novotny R. (2025). Diet, Activity and Sleep Clusters Associated With Obesity Markers of Children in the US-Affiliated Pacific. Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992), 10.1111/apa.70012.
Seale LA*, Yamanaka AB*, Hammond K, Lim E, Wilkens LR, McFall P, Aflague TF, Coleman P, Fleming T, Shallcross L, Deenik J., Novotny R. (2024) Dietary Micronutrient Intake and The Prevalence Of Metabolic Conditions Among Children From The US-Affiliated Pacific Region In The Children’s Healthy Living Program. Current Developments in Nutrition. 2024 Dec 16:104531.
Yamanaka AB, Strasburger S, Chow C, Butel J, Wilkens L, Davis JD, Deenik J, Shallcross L, & Novotny R. (2022). Food and Physical Activity Environment in the US-Affiliated Pacific Region: The Children's Healthy Living Program. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.
Novotny R, Yamanaka AB, Butel J, Boushey CJ, Dela Cruz R, Aflague T, Coleman, P, Shallcross L, Fleming T, Wilkens LR. (2022). Maintenance Outcomes of the Children’s Healthy Living Program on Overweight, Obesity, and Acanthosis Nigricans Among Young Children in the US-Affiliated Pacific Region: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Network Open, 5(6):e2214802. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.14802
Yamanaka AB, Davis JD, Wilkens LR, Hurwitz EL, Fialkowski MK, Deenik J, Leon Guerrero RT, & Novotny, R. (2021). Determination of Child Waist Circumference Cut Points for Metabolic Risk Based on Acanthosis Nigricans, the Children’s Healthy Living Program. Preventing Chronic Disease, 18, E64.
Paulino YC, Hurwitz EL, Ogo JC, Paulino TC, Yamanaka AB, Novotny R, Wilkens LR, Miller MJ. (2017). Epidemiology of areca (betel) nut use in the Mariana Islands: Findings from the University of Guam/Cancer Center of Hawaii Partnership Program. Cancer Epidemiology, 50: 241-246.
Publications List on NIH MyBibliography
