Dr. Leila Itani is an Associate Professor in the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Beirut Arab University, where she has taught since 2010. She holds a PhD in Education (Nutrition Education) from the Lebanese University and an MSc in Nutrition from the American University of Beirut. She is also a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist. Her research covers obesity and body composition, dietary patterns, maternal and child nutrition, and nutrition literacy, and she has more than 80 peer-reviewed publications. She teaches community nutrition, nutrition education and maternal-child nutrition. She serves as Guest Associate Editor in Frontiers Nutritional Epidemiology

Dr. Itani’s research focuses on dietary patterns, body composition and obesity. This includes sarcopenic obesity, cardiometabolic risk, and the validation of assessment tools for weight management settings. She also has a strong interest in maternal and child nutrition, breastfeeding, and infant and young child feeding (IYCF), and is a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist.

-PhD in Education (Nutrition Education) from the Lebanese University (2018) -MSc in Nutrition from the American University of Beirut (1989), where she received the Sutherland Award for Graduate Excellence -BSc in Environmental Public Health -Certified Breastfeeding Specialist Her professional training covers: -WHO Child Growth Standards -Nutrition in Emergencies (AUB/UCL) -Systematic review methodology -Lactation and IYCF -Certificate in teaching for the future, including AI in education and STEAM

Dr. Itani teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in the Nutrition and Dietetics program. Her undergraduate courses are Nutrition Education, Community Nutrition, Malnutrition and Nutrition Interventions, Breastfeeding Essentials, and Dietary Analysis Simulation. At the graduate level, she teaches Nutritional Epidemiology, Maternal and Child Nutrition, and the Nutrition Seminar. Her teaching combines case studies, student projects and evidence-based practice. It also integrates the 17 SDG's.

Most Active Researcher Award, Beirut Arab University, 2026 CA and CC Rubeiz Award, 2014 Sutherland Award for Graduate Excellence, American University of Beirut, 1989