Kelly K Freeman Bost

Kelly K Freeman Bost serves as Professor in Human Development and Family Studies and Psychology at the University of Illinois, with affiliate appointments at the Center for Social & Behavioral Science, Personalized Nutrition Initiative, and Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology. Her interdisciplinary work bridges developmental science, nutritional epidemiology, and family dynamics.

Her research centers on caregiver-child attachment systems, feeding practices, and obesity risk pathways in early childhood. Key investigations examine how secure-base scripts influence emotional responsiveness during mealtimes, the interplay between maternal mental health and child eating behaviors, and biomarker correlates of temperament. This work consistently employs longitudinal cohort designs with strong translational focus for obesity prevention.

Recent publications reveal converging trends across nutrition science and developmental psychology, particularly through the STRONG Kids 2 cohort. Research demonstrates how dietary patterns impact cognitive flexibility, human milk oligosaccharides associate with behavioral phenotypes, and maternal depression mediates emotional overeating via executive function deficits—highlighting transdisciplinary connections between gut-brain axes, caregiver responsiveness, and neurocognitive development.

Scientific recognition includes:

• NACTA Educator Award (2012)

Dr. Bost's collaborative work features prominent media coverage including 2024 reporting on emotional overeating mechanisms and 2022 analysis of household chaos impacts on cognitive skills. She leads team-based research within the STRONG Kids 2 initiative, integrating genomic, behavioral, and nutritional data collection across developmental timepoints.