In academia, Dr. Mattar is deeply committed to teaching and mentoring students at all levels. She has taught both undergraduate and graduate nutrition courses at the American University of Beirut, and since joining LAU, she has developed and coordinated numerous courses, where she has taught six different courses, four of which she personally developed. Dr. Mattar has also been recognized for her contributions and was awarded the Research Excellence Fellowship from King’s College London, the Knight’s Medal from the Principality of Monaco and the Eiffel Excellence Scholarship from the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. She has been recognized by the School of Arts and Sciences as a multitalented faculty.

In research, Dr. Mattar has published over 45 peer-reviewed indexed research papers, presented at local and international conferences, and received grants from UNICEF, the World Food Program and the World Health Organization. With over 15 years of international experience as a researcher and consultant specializing in public health nutrition and physical activity promotion, Dr. Mattar has demonstrated strong leadership and capacity-building skills. She has successfully managed inclusive health, nutrition and physical activity programs, including the development of guidelines and strategic planning in both emergency and regular settings. Her work has spanned collaborations with government offices, UN agencies, as well as professional societies.

Dr. Lama Mattar conducts research relevant to the following SDGs:

National and International Guidelines and Guidance

1. WHO implementation guidance on emergencies capacity-building: approaches for just-in-time learning response to health emergencies. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2024. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/379019
2. Nutrition and Physical Activity Interventions Provided by Nutrition and Exercise Practitioners for the General Population: An Evidence-Based Practice Guideline From the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and American Council on Exercise. Robinson, R., Nitschke, N., Tovar, A.,  Mattar, L, Gottesman, K., Hamlett, P., Rozga, M. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 2023,ISSN 2212-2672, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2023.04.004.
3. French National Guidelines for Anorexia Nervosa. Haute Autorité de Santé (HAS)/ Association Française pour le Développement des Approches Spécialisées dans les Troubles du Comportement Alimentaire (AFDAS-TCA), http://www.has-sante.fr/portail/jcms/c_985715/anorexie-mentale-prise-en-charge (France, Sept 2010).

Selected Publications in Peer-Reviewed Journals

1. Zeeni N, Abi Kharma J, Malli D, Khoury-Malhame M, Mattar L. Exposure to Instagram junk food content negatively impacts mood and cravings: a randomized controlled trial. Appetite 2024 Jan 14; 195:107209. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2024.107209
2. Mattar, L., Hassan, H., Kalash, N., Malli, D., Diab-El-Harake, M., Nassour, S., Jomaa, L. Assessing the nutritional content and adequacy of food parcels among vulnerable Lebanese during a double crisis: COVID-19 pandemic and an economic meltdown (2023). Public Health Nutrition, 1-13. doi:10.1017/S1368980023000241
3. Kalash, N., Harb, H., Mattar, L. et al. Determinants of body image disturbance and disordered eating behaviors among self-identified LGBTQ individuals.  Journal of Eating Disorders 11, 87 (2023). doi.org/10.1186/s40337-023-00810-2
4. Hassan H, Rizk Y, Chalak A, Abiad MG, Mattar L*.  Household food waste generation during COVID-19 pandemic and unprecedented economic crisis: The case of Lebanon. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research Volume 14, 2023, 100749, ISSN 2666-1543, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2023.100749.
5. Abi Nader P, Hadla R, Majed L, Mattar L, Sayegh S. Results from the Lebanese 2022 report card on physical activity for children and youth (2023). Journal of Exercise Science and Fitness; 21(1):14-19. DOI: 10.1016/j.jesf.2022.10.007. PMID: 36349302; PMCID: PMC9634469.
6. El Chaar, D., El Khoury, C., Mattar, L. AND/ASPEN and GLIM Malnutrition Diagnostic Tools Identify Similar Malnutrition-Related Risk Factors.  Current Developments in Nutrition, 2022, 6(Supplement_1), 563-563.
7. El Chaar, D., Mattar, L., Fakih El Khoury, C. AND/ASPEN and the GLIM Malnutrition Diagnostic Criteria have a High Degree of Criterion Validity and Reliability for the Identification of Malnutrition in a Hospital Setting: A Single-Center Prospective Study. Journal of parenteral and enteral nutrition, 2022, 10.1002/jpen.2347. https://doi.org/10.1002/jpen.2347
8. Nitschke E, Gottesman K, Hamlett P, Mattar L, Robinson J, Tovar A, Rozga M. Impact of Nutrition and Physical Activity Interventions Provided by Nutrition and Exercise Practitioners for the Adult General Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients. 2022 Apr 21;14(9):1729. doi: 10.3390/nu14091729. PMID: 35565696; PMCID: PMC9103154.
9. Mattar L, Abi Kharma J., Hanach N., Mashharawi Fr., Zeeni N. Violence Against Women in Adulthood Is Associated with Increased Disordered Eating Behaviors and Risk of Eating Disorders: A Cross-Sectional Study Violence and Gender 2021-08-27. DOI: 10.1089/vio.2021.0021
10. Zeeni N., Abi Kharma J, Mattar L.  Social Media Use and Posting: Associations with Body Image Dissatisfaction and Dietary Behavior in Pregnant Women. Current Psychology, 2021.

Communication and International Conferences 

1. Ouaijan K, Juvelekian G, Ghattas N, Mattar L INDICATORS OF OPTIMAL NUTRITION SUPPORT IN INTENSIVE CARE UNIT CAN BE IMPROVED BY A MULTIFACETED INTERVENTION: IMPLEMENTATION OF A DEFINED PROTOCOL AND MULTIDISCIPLINARY ROUNDS ESPEN 2019, September 2019, Poland. Poster presentation.
2. Mattar L., Abi Nader P. et al. Results from the First Lebanon’s Physical Activity Report Card for Children and Youth (2018) XII International Epidemiological Association-Eastern Mediterranean Region Scientific Meeting 2019, February 2019, Beirut, Lebanon. Poster presentation
3. Abi Nader P., Mattar L., et al. Results from the First Lebanon’s Physical Activity Report Card for Children and Youth (2018) Movement to Move conference 2018, November 2018, Australia. Poster presentation
4. Mattar L , Juvelekian G, Diab N , Khoury M , Ouaijan K Prediction of Optimal Nutrition Support using the Nutrition Risk in Critically Ill (NUTRIC) Score and identification of the Common Barriers to Reach Enteral Nutrition Target in an Intensive Care Unit ASPEN 2018, January 2018, Las Vegas. Poster presentation.
5. Mattar L, et al. Evaluation of nutrition support practices: Results from the first national survey in hospitals across Lebanon. ESPEN 2016, September 2016, Copenhagen. Poster presentation.
6. Mattar L. Medium term effect of the seven-minute high intensity workout on body weight, lean body mass, grip strength and heart rate. Obesity Week, Los Angeles 2015. Poster presentation.
7. Mattar L, Zeeni N, Bassil M. Effect of movie violence on mood, stress, appetite perception and food preferences in a random population. Obesity Week, Boston 2014. Poster presentation. 
8. Bachand MP, Mattar L (oral presenter), Hébuterne X, Cano N, Schneider S. Evaluation des pratiques d’hydratation chez les patients en nutrition entérale. Journée Française de Nutrition (JFN). December 2013. Oral Presentation.
9. Mattar L, Pichard C, et al. Underweight Patients with Anorexia Nervosa: Comparison of Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis Using 5 Equations to DXA. International Conference on Eating Disorders (ICED). May 2012. Austin, Texas, USA. Oral presentation.
10. Mattar L, Godart N, Melchior JC and Pichard C, et al. Underweight Patients with Anorexia Nervosa: Comparison of Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis Using Five Equations to Dual X-Ray Absorptiometry. 33^rd ESPEN Congress. September 2011. Gothenburg, Sweden. Outstanding Poster communication.
11. Mattar L, Coulon N, Godart N. The course of depression, anxiety, obsessionality and social phobia symptoms in relation to malnutrition in anorexia nervosa. The 10^th London International Eating Disorders Conference. March 2011. London, UK. Paper presentation.
12. Mattar L, Falissard B, Godart N. Body composition components in relation to psychological status in anorexia nervosa. ECED conférence. September 2011 ; Florence, Italy. Poster communication.
13. Mattar L, Coulon N, Godart N. Symptômes dépressifs et anxieux en relation avec la renutrition chez les patients atteints d’anorexie mentale. Congrès International Francophone d’Addictologie. Octobre 2010 ; Nantes, France. Poster communication.

Book Chapters

1. Jeammet P, Godart N, Mattar L. Anorexie Mentale, in Manuel de Psychiatrie, JD Guelfi and F Rouillon (Eds); Masson-Paris 2011.

• PhD Universite Pierre et Marie Curie (Paris IV), France
• MSc American University of Beirut, Lebanon
• BSc American University of Beirut, Lebanon