Faculty

Jonathan A. Mitchell, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition)

Department: Pediatrics

Graduate Group Affiliations

Graduate Group in Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Contact information

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
Roberts Center for Pediatric Research
2716 South Street, Room 14363
Philadelphia, PA 19146

Office: 267-426-1473

Email:
mitchellj2@chop.edu

Publications

Search PubMed for articles

Education:
BSc (Hons) (Physiology)
University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK, 2004.
MSc (Human Nutrition)
University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK, 2006.
PhD (Exercise Science)
University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 2011.

Links
Search PubMed for articles
Mitchell Lab at CHOP
Google Scholar

Permanent link

> Perelman School of Medicine > Faculty > Details

Description of Research Expertise

The overarching goal of my research is to help prevent chronic diseases in later life, by focusing on energetic behaviors (sleep, diet, and physical activity) and their impact on body composition during growth and development. My lab includes the Unit for Energetic Behavior Research that conducts multidisciplinary epidemiological studies, using sensors to measure locomotor activity, advanced imaging to measure body composition, detailed nutritional assessment to measure energy intake and dietary behavior, geospatial methods to measure the neighborhood environment, and DNA collection for gene-behavior interaction analyses. In addition, my lab’s Unit for Optimizing Behavioral Interventions uses the Multiphase Optimization Strategy framework to design digital interventions to improve energetic behavior profiles in childhood.

Selected Publications

Mitchell JA, Bradfield J, McCormack S, Chesi A, Kalkwarf H, Lappe J, Oberfield S, Duren D, Shepherd J, Hankenson K, Kelly A, Hakonarson H, Grant SFA, Zemel B: The gSOS Polygenic Score is Associated with Bone Density and Fracture Risk in Childhood. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research Oct 2025 Notes: In press (accepted Oct 6th, 2025).

Kogon A, Chatterjee A, Kellom K, LoGuidice J, Zemel B, Schwartz L, Mitchell JA, Amaral S: Identifying Barriers and Facilitators to Physical Activity Participation among Adolescents with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Qualitative Study Using Semi-Structured Interviews. Kidney Medicine Oct 2025 Notes: In press (accepted Oct 10th, 2025).

Zhang Y, Lee JM, Peterson KE, Mitchell JA, Jansen EC: Role of Sleep Duration and Timing on Pediatric BMI Across Childhood and Adolescence: Do Both Matter? Pediatric Obesity Oct 2025 Notes: In press (accepted Oct 13th, 2025).

Chen P-W, Jansen EC, Cielo C, Williamson AA, Banker M, Kaye M, Song PXK, Peterson KE, Cantoral A, Tellez-Rojo MM, Goldstein C, Zanna, K, Sano A, Moreno JP, Kalkwarf H, Zemel BS, Mitchell JA: Performance of an Automated Sleep Scoring Approach for Actigraphy Data in Children and Adolescents. SLEEP Sept 2025 Notes: In press (accepted Sept 8th, 2025).

Zemel BS, Winer KK, Kelly A, Freedman D, Mitchell JA, Weber DR, McCormack SE, Lappe JM, Oberfield SE, Shepherd JA, Grant SFA, Kalkwarf HJ: Race-Neutral Pediatric Reference Ranges for Bone Mineral Density Predict Incident Fractures in Childhood. Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism Mar 2025 Notes: In press; accepted Mar 19th, 2025.

Avitabile CM, Mota JP, Yeaman KM, Andrieux SJ, Lechtenberg L, Escobar E, Chuo J, Xanthopoulos MS, Faig W, O’Malley SM, Ford E, McBride MG, Paridon SM, Mitchell JA, Zemel BS: Creating a Digital Approach for Promoting Physical Activity in Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension: A Framework for Future Interventions. Pulmonary Circulation 14(3): e12402, July 2024.

Kogon AJ, Maqsood AM, LoGuidice J, Amaral S, Meyers K, Mitchell JA: Sleep Duration and Blood Pressure in Youth Referred for Elevated Blood Pressure Evaluation. Pediatrics 154(1): e2023062940, Jul 2024.

Banker M*, Jansen EC*, Goodrich JM, English L, Dolinoy DC, Song PXK, Mitchell JA, Téllez-Rojo MM, Cantoral A, Peterson KE: Associations Between Sleep and Physical Activity Behavior Clusters and Epigenetic Age Acceleration in Mexican Adolescents. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise May 2024 Notes: *Joint first authors. In press (accepted May 15th, 2024).

Markiewitz ND, Lane-Fall M, Huang J, Mercer-Rosa L, Stack K, Mitchell J, O’Connor MJ, Rossano JW, Paridon S, Burstein DS, Edelson JB: Determinants of Reduced Exercise Capacity in Youth After Heart Transplant: A Longitudinal Cohort Study. The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation 4: 100075, Feb 2024.

Prout Parks E, Allison KC, Bruton Y, Khalil T, Mitchell JA: Gamification to Promote Physical Activity in Youth and Mothers with Obesity. Pediatric Exercise Science Page: 1-8, Feb 2024 Notes: In press, published ahead of print.